Company Fined After Rooflight Fall Leaves Worker in Wheelchair

A PROPERTY management company was fined £200,000 after an employee was left in a wheelchair after falling eight metres through a rooflight.

On 5 April 2018, Robin Williamson, an asbestos surveyor employed by City Property (Glasgow) LLP, was carrying out a survey on the roof of Netherton Community Centre when he fell through a rooflight.

The fall left Robin in a wheelchair after he suffered severe injuries, including multiple skull fractures as well as a bleed to the brain and multiple spine and rib fractures.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) concluded that City Property (Glasgow) LLP did not provide a safe system for working at height on the external roof areas of the community centre in that it did not plan, organise and supervise the work, to ensure that the risks were identified and adequate precautions were in place.

Property Management Company Fined 

City Property (Glasgow) LLP of Exchange House, George Street, Glasgow pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1), 2(2)(a) and (c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and was fined £200,000 at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 21 December 2022.

HSE Principal Inspector, Cameron Adam, said: “Falls from a height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities and significant injuries in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well known.

“Falls from height are avoidable and Mr Williamson’s accident would have been prevented had the risks been properly assessed and the appropriate control measures implemented.

“Employers should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards”.

Guidance on working at height can be found here.

>> Read about more roofing accidents in the news