An accident involving a roofer falling and breaking his legs saw two companies fined around £20k between them for their failure to properly plan and supervise the job. The ruling came earlier this year from an accident in 2020 and demonstrates once again the importance of ensuring work at height is always conducted safely.
Gas Gun Flare Stumbles Roofer
This accident was caused by the unexpected flare of a gas gun while a team of three roofers was helping to install a new roof at the Aspire Academy in Bexleyheath, Welling.
According to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Gemma Cox, certain ‘basic, industry-standard control measures’ were not in place to protect the workers, resulting in the unexpected flare causing one of the roofers to stumble backwards over the unprotected edge of the roof. He fell to the ground and suffered multiple fractures to both of his legs, which required extensive surgery.
20k Fines for Contractor Failures
The original contractor for the roof refurbishment was Property Facilities Group, but they were unavailable to complete the work and thus brought in sub-contractor Horizon Roofing Specialists to complete the job.
The original contractor pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £14,000. The sub-contractor pleaded guilty to the same breach of regulations and was fined £3,333. Both firms were also ordered to pay nearly £1,620 each in costs.
Failure to Plan and Supervise ‘Adequately and Appropriately’
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found both contractors had failed to ‘adequately plan, appropriately supervise, and ensure that the work was carried out in a safe manner’. HSE inspector Gemma Cox commented after the hearing, saying: “Too many workers are injured every year as a result of falling from roofs with unprotected edges. The victim sustained serious injuries which could have been prevented if basic, industry-standard control measures had been put in place. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
HSE Report Reveals Rise in Falls from Height
Recent statistics published by the HSE have revealed that falls from a height account for 36% of 138 worker deaths over the last year. It remains the leading cause of fatal workplace injury.
The problem seems to be increasing dramatically as well, with 50 workers having died due to a fall from height in Great Britain throughout 2023 to 2024. That figure is a worrying 35% above the 5-year average of 37 deaths from falls from height.
To learn more about appropriate equipment and training for working safely at height, get in touch with the team at Ability International today.
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