Scaffolder Suffers Life-Changing Skylight Fall While Erecting Fall Protection

A SCAFFOLDING company from Poole in Dorset has been sentenced after a worker sustained life changing injuries having fallen five metres through a skylight whilst at work.

Poole Magistrates’ Court heard how on 10 April 2017 Paul Norris, was working for Solar Scaffold Services Limited which was contracted to erect an access tower and guard rails around the roof of some industrial units in Christchurch during April 2017.

Life-Changing Skylight Fall

After completing work on the access tower, Paul went to assist colleagues with the guard rails, gaining access via the roof.

He fell through a skylight causing life-changing injuries, including numerous fractures to his pelvis, wrists, ribs, elbow and arm. As a result, Paul has now been registered disabled, has had to move to an adapted flat and cannot return to work. His wife has been forced to give up work in order to care for him.

Inadequate Planning

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Solar Scaffold Services Limited failed in their duty to ensure the work at height was properly planned, supervised and carried out safely. Insufficient measures were taken to prevent a fall through the fragile roof whilst the building was being worked on.

Solar Scaffold Services Limited pleaded guilty to breaching the Work at Height Regulations 2005. They have been fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3666.80.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Caroline Penwill, said: “Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities and injuries in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well known.

“Mr Norris’s injuries were life changing for both him and his family. He could have easily been killed. This serious incident could have been avoided if the work had been properly planned to reduce risk.”

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