![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
FAILURE TO ISOLATE LEAVES WORKMAN PARALYSED
Conveyor guards removed before power source isolated
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 16th October 2018TRADING STANDARDS AND HSE ACT IN CONCERT
Director given prison term over fraud and health and safety breaches
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 15th October 2018BUILDER ERROR CAUSED RESIDENT FALL FROM BALCONY
Director prosecuted over refurb project danger to others
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 12th October 2018FORMER HSE BOSS CONDEMNS VALUE ENGINEERING
Resident and public safety must match workforce safety progress
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 12th October 2018RETAILER FINED AFTER FAN AMPUTATES FINGERS
Maintenance engineer injured during roof fan repair works
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 12th October 2018POOR PLANT ISOLATION CAUSED CONVEYOR DANGER
Arm of fitter trapped between conveyor drum and belt
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 11th October 2018BUILDING OWNER FAILED TO CHECK FOR ASBESTOS
Prison sentence for businessman after previous HSE enforcement
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 11th October 2018YOUNG WORKER LOSES FINGERS IN SAWING INCIDENT
Provision of training and information could not be proved
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 11th October 2018HSE ENFORCEMENT WEEKLY UPDATE 10th OCT 2018
Prosecutions and enforcement notices register latest version
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 10th October 2018MD PROSECUTED ALONGSIDE ERRANT COMPANY
Director held personally responsible for poor site conditions
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 1st October 2018ASBESTOS REMOVAL STARTED BEFORE R & D SURVEY
Asbestos insulation board found outside building being refurbished
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 27th September 2018INEFFECTIVELY BRAKED SAW CAUSED AMPUTATIONS
Retro-fitting of precautions may be required on older machines
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 27th September 2018FALL THROUGH FRAGILE CEILING TILES
Failure to implemented control measures for working near fragile surfaces
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 27th September 2018HSE SEEKS CONSTRUCTION ‘DUST BUSTER’ PARTNERS
Regulator uses social media to raise dust dangers and using right controls
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 24th September 2018MAJOR HOMES BUSINESS EXPOSED PUBLIC TO RISK
Residential property refurb project created carbon monoxide danger
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 24th September 2018HSE CONSTRUCTION DUST CONTROL ‘BLITZ’ STARTS
Regulator inspections will check health taken as seriously as safety
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 20th September 2018FLOOR CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM OF WORK UNSAFE
Welder fell 3m from mezzanine area through purlin openings
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 20th September 2018WORKER SUFFERS FATAL BURNS IN OXYGEN RICH AREA
Sparks from angle grinder ignited clothing of workman in confined space
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 19th September 2018RIBA PUBLISH DRAFT POST GRENFELL FIRE SAFETY PLAN
Architects institute consults on ‘golden thread of fire safety information’
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 19th September 2018MAJOR UK CONTRACTORS HIT BY MAJOR FINES
Firms ordered to pay over £3m after foot trapped in rotating ‘screw’
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 19th September 2018DRIVER DIED TRAPPED BETWEEN TRAILER AND VEHICLE
Firm fined £1.5 million over failure to assess coupling operations
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th September 2018ACTUAL SYSTEM OF WORK WAS OPPOSITE OF RAMS
Workman fell 4m through fragile asbestos roof sheet
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 13th September 2018CDM PRINCIPAL DESIGNER FUNCTION MISUNDERSTOOD?
Consultants claim CDM 2015 design risk management has ‘gone backwards’
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 8th September 2018RISK ASSESSED PRECAUTIONS NOT IMPLEMENTED
Action not paperwork essential to prevent fall during lifting operation
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 7th September 2018CROSSRAIL PUBLISH BEST PRACTICE H&S GUIDES
Sharing major project best practice can leave a lasting legacy
Posted on 5th September 2018
