Dorset Construction Company Fined Following Fragile Rooflight Fall

CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, Cutler Bros. Ltd and its director, Roger Martin Cutler were sentenced after a worker fell through a rooflight during the construction of a new building in Wimborne.

Poole Magistrates’ Court heard that on 22 February 2019, a self-employed labourer was working with another colleague to fit roof sheets to a newly constructed steel framed barn.

While working from the roof of an existing, adjacent barn, the worker fell through a fragile skylight in the barn roof almost four meters to the floor below.

The worker suffered head and facial injuries and was knocked unconscious. He spent nearly two weeks in hospital.

Fragile Roof 

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the work had not been properly planned. The method of work meant that workers had to work near to a fragile roof without having sufficient platforms and guard rails in place. The company Director was on site directing the work.

Cutler Bros. Ltd of Horton Road, Wimborne, Dorset pleaded guilty to breaching Section 9(2) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. They were fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,600.

As a director of the company, Roger Martin Cutler pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37(1) of Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,200.

Correct Control Measures

HSE inspector Georgina Symons, said “This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply using correct control measures and following safe working practices.

“Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities/injuries in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well known.”

HSE working at height is available here.