Builder prosecuted for worker’s fall

Posted on Friday 1 January 2010

A builder from Surrey has been prosecuted for the fall of a worker. Redhill Magistrates heard how the worker fell 3.2 m through an opening in a roof onto a concrete floor. He survived the fall but was left with broken ribs, swelling to his brain and nerve damage.

An investigation found that he was part of the team building an extension to a house. They had been working on the roof, adjacent to an opening created previously, but as it had begun to rain they wanted to cover the exposed parts with plastic sheeting and tarpaulins. The opening, which was approximately 2 metres by 1.5 metres had no measures to prevent persons falling, or mitigate the consequences of any fall. The worker stepped backwards into the opening and fell.

Frank Gaskin, a self-employed builder who trades under the name of FG Blockplan from Coldstream Road, Caterham, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6 (3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. He was fined £2400 and ordered to pay costs of £2935.42 with a victim surcharge of £120.