Roofing Company Fined after Fatal Roof Fall

A ROOFING AND CLADDING COMPANY has been fined after an employee fell through an industrial roof light, sustaining fatal injuries.

On 25 February 2018, Jonathan Moore, an employee of R4 Industrial Roofing Cladding Systems Ltd, was undertaking repairs on a large warehouse roof in the Port of Tilbury.

Roof Fall

He stepped on a fragile rooflight, which gave way, falling more than 10 metres to the concrete floor below. He sustained fatal injuries from the fall, Basildon Crown Court heard.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the repair work was carried out without appropriate safety precautions in place. The planning and supervision of the work was completely inadequate, which also put a self-employed worker assisting with the repairs at risk.

R4 Industrial Roofing Cladding Systems Ltd of Friern Gardens, Wickford, Essex pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. They were fined £165,000 and ordered to pay costs of £20,957.

Unsafe Work at Height Unacceptable

HSE inspector Glyn Davies said: “Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well known.

“Companies should be aware that unsafe work at height without suitable and sufficient controls in place is not acceptable and HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standard.”