Unprotected Rooflight Fall Lands Conservatory Company in Court

A MANUFACTURER and installer of conservatories has been fined £40,000 after an employee fell through the roof of a first-floor home extension.

Leslie Baker was an employee of Herefordshire-based Atrium Conservatories Limited. He was installing an orangery extension covering the footprint of a former first-floor balcony at a house in Abberley, Worcestershire on 9 February 2024.

While working on the roof trusses, Leslie Baker, who was 56 at the time, stepped onto an unguarded opening for a future rooflight.

He fell approximately two metres through the opening to the floor below. He suffered a serious head injury, several broken ribs, a ruptured spleen and kidney damage. Leslie remained intubated in hospital for approximately two weeks before surgery could be attempted.

Unprotected Rooflight Fall

The long term impact on Leslie Baker has been profound both physically, as his mobility has been affected long term, and mentally as he has since been diagnosed with PTSD.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that no external scaffold had been put into place around the perimeter of the extension to provide safe access or prevent falls to the ground below.

Additionally, there were no measures in place internally to prevent falls into the extension.

The HSE investigation also found that Atrium Conservatories Limited had failed to properly plan the work and to provide its workers with suitable instructions for carrying out their duties safely.

Working at height remains one of the leading causes of workplace injury and death and HSE has detailed guidance on working safely at height and managing construction activities.

Atrium Conservatories Limited of Kington, Herefordshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. They were fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £5,309 in costs at a hearing at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court on 26 June 2025.

HSE Inspector Jo Quigley said, “Working at height remains one of the leading causes of workplace injury and death.

“This incident could have easily had fatal consequence and it highlights the importance of undertaking a thorough assessment of the risks for all work at height activities. Suitable control measures, such as internal crash deck, should also be implemented to minimise the risk of serious personal injury.

“Every company that carries out building alterations must understand they are undertaking construction work; and therefore ensure they put in place suitable control and management measures throughout the duration of the work to the same standards as the wider construction industry.”

This prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Julian White and paralegal officer Rebecca Withell.

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