
![]() |
Mark Sennett
Managing Editor |
![]() |
Kelly Rose
Editor |
Home> | Industry Update | >Company News | >Roofing company fined after safety failings |
Roofing company fined after safety failings
09 June 2017
A roofing company has been sentenced for safety failings related to working at height.
Brighton Magistrates Court heard how numerous concerns were raised by members of the public about work being carried out by G & S Roofing. The company twice ignored written advice to address the issue of working at height in an unsafe manner.
In August 2016, a further concern was raised by a member of the public who contacted the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after seeing more evidence of operatives hired by G & S Roofing working unsafely from height. Inspectors then visited the site.
The HSE investigation found one of the operatives to be working on the flashings of a chimney from a ladder resting on the pitch of the roof at the unguarded gable end of the two storey house. There was nothing at the gable end of the roof to prevent a person falling. There were no suitable measures in place to prevent a person falling from the gable end, a fall which could have caused personal injury. A prohibition was served but the company took no action to rectify the dangerous working conditions.
G & S Roofing was found guilty in its absence to breaching Regulations 4(1)(a) and 4(1)(c) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 by virtue of Regulation 3(b). The company was fined a total of £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4574.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Rebekah Dunn said: “The dangers associated with working at height are well-known and G & S Roofing had a duty to protect all operatives from the risk of falling from height. Despite repeated advice, the company failed to put in adequate precautionary measures.
“It is vital for duty-holders to ensure that all issues related to health and safety are suitably addressed, particularly when the issues are highlighted.”
- HSE releases annual workplace fatality figures
- Powys County Council fined for safety failings
- Two contractors fined after worker fell from height
- School fined after pupil paralysed when swing collapsed
- Construction firms sentenced after road worker loses arm
- Firms fined after employees injured in cold store collapse
- Chemical firm fined £3million after worker killed by toxic vapour cloud
- Blueprint sets out waste industry's safety drive
- Development company guilty of repeated safety breaches
- Sentence after worker injured at prison