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Roof fall highlights importance of planning and supervision on smaller sites
Hawarden Roofing Supplies & Contractors Limited has been prosecuted following an incident at a domestic property on 13 October 2009 when a workman fell from a garage roof.
Mold Magistrates’ Court heard that 23-year-old Mark Cain was working on the removal and replacement of a garage roof when he fell more than 2m to the ground below. He suffered whiplash, back fractures and has been unable to return to work due to persistent back pain.
The company failed to notify the incident to HSE however the regulator was eventually made aware of the incident and investigation revealed the roofwork was not properly planned and supervised to ensure appropriate controls measures were in place.
Prohibition Notice would have been served
Hawarden Roofing Supplies & Contractors Limited of Deeside, Flintshire pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It was fined £3,000. It also pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(1)(b) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 and it was fined £1,000. The defendant was also ordered to pay full prosecution costs of £2,500.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector, Will Gretton said:
“Falls from height continue to be the biggest cause of fatal injuries within the construction industry. The type of injuries for people who fall from height while at work, and survive, can be life-changing, ranging from debilitating back injuries to paralysis.
This incident was totally foreseeable, but Mr Cain has suffered significant injuries as a consequence of inadequate planning and supervision while working at height.
Had the incident been reported to the HSE, an immediate Prohibition Notice would have been served on the site and all work stopped until the correct and reasonably practicable measures put in place.”