Construction Firm Fined after Worker Injured in Barn Roof Fall

A CONSTRUCTION company has been fined after a worker fell from the roof of a partially constructed barn in Shropshire.

The man was appointed by Dewi Williams Limited to complete the installation of roof sheets onto a barn that was under construction at a site in Oswestry.

On 2 September 2023, the man was stood on a roof sheet that he had recently installed, attempting to put the next one in place, when he fell to the ground below. His fall resulted in significant injuries, including fractures to his ribs and skull.

Safety Failings

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Dewi Williams Limited failed to properly plan the work and to put in place measures to prevent or protect against a fall from height. Furthermore, company director Dewi Williams was directly involved in the work and had allowed it to be carried out in an unsafe manner.

Working at height remains one of the leading causes of workplace injury. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require work at height activities to be properly planned, appropriately supervised, and carried out safely. HSE has detailed guidance on working safely at height here.

Construction Firm Fined

Dewi Williams Limited of the Lowlands, Crickheathe, Oswestry, Shropshire, pleaded guilty to breaches of Regulations 4(1) and 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,000.

Dewi Williams of the Lowlands, Crickheathe, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 8BS, pleaded guilty to the same breaches by virtue of Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £1,000 in costs.

HSE Inspector Sara Andrews said: “This case emphasises the importance of properly assessing the risks associated with all work at height activities.

“Suitable control measures should be implemented to minimise the risk of workers falling and suffering injury.

“Had this work been properly planned, and suitable work equipment provided, this incident would not have happened.”

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