Unprotected Rooflight Fall Leaves Worker Seriously Injured

A construction company in London has been fined £60,000 after a worker suffered life-changing injuries when he fell through an unprotected rooflight while working on a domestic roof refurbishment.

On 10 November 2023, a male worker was carrying out roof refurbishment work at a domestic property on Langthorne Street, Fulham.

He was working for Lowndes Lumb Construction Limited, passing materials through an open, unprotected rooflight during a property renovation. He fell through the opening onto the concrete floor below, sustaining serious injuries.

Failed to Protect Workers

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had failed to take suitable measures to protect workers from the risk of falling from height. Measures to prevent falls, such as scaffolding, guard rails, an internal crash deck or harness systems, had not been used.

HSE guidance states that work at height must be properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out safely by competent people. Work at height means work in any place where, if precautions were not in place, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury.

Relevant guidance can be found here: Working at height: A brief guide.

Lowndes Lumb Construction Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The company was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £6,070 in costs at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 3 August 2026.

The Leading Cause of Death

HSE Inspector Lydia Edwards said: “Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of workplace death and serious injury. The latest HSE statistics show they accounted for around a quarter of all worker deaths in Great Britain during 2025/26.

“This was a wholly avoidable incident that resulted in a worker suffering life-changing injuries. Had suitable measures been in place to prevent a fall, this incident could have been prevented.

“If you are working at height and think there is a risk that someone or something could fall, you must take action to control that risk.”

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