Builder Guilty After Barn Roof Fall on First Day on Job

A SELF-EMPLOYED builder pleaded guilty after his labourer fell more than 13 feet through a barn roof on his first day on the job.

The builder, James Dargan-Cole, 25, of Todmorden, had failed to avoid the working at height completely or prevent a fall while doing so.

Barn Roof Fall on First Day on Job

Suffering serious injuries, Jacob Thomas, 29, was a self-employed labourer who fell at Great House Farm, Great House Road, on 13 April 2023.

The fall happened during his first day on the job.

The labourer had been removing wooden boarding behind the roof of a lower barn structure. He took a step and fell through one of the skylights to the floor below.

Jacob Thomas’s horrific injuries included a brain haemorrhage as well as multiple fractures including to his skull, his sternum, spine and shoulder.

Working at height remains one of the leading causes of workplace injury and death. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has detailed guidance on working safely at height.

Asbestos Roof

An investigation by HSE found that as well as failing to consider the work at height, the roof also contained asbestos fibres. Dargan-Cole lacked the understanding of the risks and the associated controls to manage the risks whilst dismantling the lower barn structure.

HSE’s campaign Asbestos and You reminds tradespeople about the dangers of asbestos and the importance of working safely with it.

Builder Guilty

James Dargan-Cole, of Eastwood Road, Todmorden, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(3) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He was handed a 12 month community order with 200 hours unpaid work in the community and ordered to pay £2,500 in costs at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on 1 April 2025.

HSE Inspector Paul Thompson said: “Mr Thomas suffered horrific injuries due to the failure to ensure protective fall prevention or collective fall mitigation measures were in place. These are well known and long standing within the industry.

“This incident came about as a result of poor planning, management and monitoring of activities during work at height. I hope this case serves as an example and a reminder to others about the potential deadly risks they often undertake and how they should be approached.”

This prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Matthew Reynolds, who was supported by HSE paralegal officer Rebecca Forman.

>> Read about more roofing court cases in the news