![PP Construction Safety logo and link to home page [1]](http://www.ppconstructionsafety.com/wp-content/themes/ppcs960/images/ppcslogo.jpg)
FRAGILE ROOF FALL HIGHLIGHTS UPCOMING HSE CAMPAIGN
High risk dismantling operation was not planned to prevent falls
An individual contractor has been fined after a ‘friend’ assisting with dismantling the roof of a disused factory fell 3m through the asbestos cement roof at Newnham, in the Forest of Dean, on 4 September 2012. He escaped with a fractured his elbow.
Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court heard (18 Mar) that Ashley Jones was engaged to dismantle the roof but he did not plan the work properly with equipment in place to prevent or mitigate the effects of a fall.
A ladder was used to gain access but the work could have been done safely from a cherry picker lift or scaffold tower. No guard rails were provided around the roof to prevent falls.
Work on roofs must be approached in a professional way
Ashley Jones, of Parkend Road, Yorkley, near Lydney, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £1,250 and ordered to pay £1,000 in costs.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Sue Adsett said:
“Ashley Jones is a general property maintenance worker and had neither the training nor experience working on industrial roofs.
Falls from height are the single biggest cause of deaths and serious injury in the construction industry but proper planning and simple precautions, such as working from platforms below when possible and using edge protection, can reduce the risks.
Working on roofs is potentially dangerous and must be approached in a professional way.”
Comment
The injured man was fortunate to escape with his life. For the last 10 years or so there has been a significant number (8 to 12 per year) of deaths as a result of falls through fragile materials especially on commercial and agricultural roofs.
Th number of deaths has not declined over this period and, if anything, appears to be increasing. The HSE Construction Division will therefore be co-ordinating a cross-sector approach to the issue running for at least 2 years and seeking to tackle this persistent problem from a variety of angles. The initative will focus on both clients and contractors.
Latest Construction Health and Safety News
HSE ENFORCEMENT WEEKLY UPDATE 12th DEC 2018
Prosecutions and enforcement notices register latest version
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 12th December 2018HSE SAFETY ALERT: TOWER CRANE BRAKES
Collapse of tower crane jib in high winds prompts HSE warning
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 11th December 2018VISITING ENGINEER CRUSHED BY SCAFFOLD TUBES
Principal contractor “signed off” contractor storage arrangements
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 11th December 2018CONCRETE EJECTED BY PUMPING UNIT CLAIMED LIFE
Company and director failed to train and supervise pumping operations
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 5th December 2018REFRESHED GUIDANCE ON FITNESS TO OPERATE PLANT
Construction plant medical fitness Good Practice Guide
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 4th December 2018MAJOR CONTRACTOR & LUL USED UNSAFE SYSTEM
Work method to eliminate moving vehicle hazard not adopted
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 4th December 2018OVERTURNING LORRY CAUSED DEATH OF DRIVER
Groundworks project stockpiling arrangements not properly managed
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 3rd December 2018FORTH BRIDGE LIFTING OPERATION NOT PLANNED
Major project PC failed to plan, supervise and carry out lift safely
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 3rd December 2018DEVELOPER FAILED ON ASBESTOS ASSESSMENT
HSE inspection revealed refurb works without asbestos survey
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 28th November 2018POST DRIVER HAMMER CRUSHED HAND OF WORKMAN
Unsafe system of work for vehicle crash barrier installation
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 28th November 2018WORKER FELL FROM LOFT THROUGH CEILING
Major house builder lacked understanding of loft fragile surfaces risk
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 28th November 2018NEW SITE DUMPER SAFETY GUIDANCE ISSUED
Construction plant sector concerns prompts CPA consults on draft
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 28th November 2018CCTV INSTALLER FELL THROUGH FRAGILE ROOFLIGHT
Contractor failed to properly plan and control the risks
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 28th November 2018VISITOR DIED FALLING INTO CONCEALED BASEMENT
Contractor failed to protect basement void on domestic project
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 28th November 2018RACKING FALL REVEALED UNSAFE SYSTEM OF WORK
European firm fined £300,000 after UK sub-contractor employee fell
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 18th November 2018FAILURE TO ACT ON VIBRATION AND SILICA HAZARDS
Worker health put at risk during stripping of furnace lining
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 18th November 2018MAJOR FM FIRM FAILED TO MAINTAIN BACK-UP POWER
Power loss at laboratory site created potential risk from biological agents
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 18th November 2018IGNORING HSE PROHIBITIONS COST FIRM £250,000
CDM 2015 and work at height requirements repeatedly breached
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 16th November 2018ROOF COLLAPSED UNDER EXCESS LOADING
Director and company fined over roof design failures
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 11th November 2018FORK LIFT OVERTURNED IN SCAFFOLDING YARD
Untrained operator suffered life changing crush injuries
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 10th November 2018STRUCTURAL SAFETY ALERT: EFFECTS OF SCALE
SCOSS issues alert after concerns disclosed over ‘large structures’
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 7th November 2018ASBESTOS EXPOSED BY UNTRAINED WORKERS
Contractor failed to act properly despite HSE intervention
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 7th November 2018GAS MAIN STRIKE REPAIR CAUSED SEVERE BURNS
Contractor excavator damage to gas pipe ends in £1.2m fine
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 7th November 2018REBAR FELL FROM FLT IN UNSAFE LIFTING OPERATION
Multiple fractures caused by inappropriate use of fork lift
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 7th November 2018POORLY PLANNED LIFT DISMANTLE INJURED WORKMAN
Counterweight or suspension rope struck worker in lift shaft
Posted on 1st November 2018
