Work at Height – Fall off roof.
January 10, 2012
A self-employed roofing contractor, Steve Mason, from Essex has been given a suspended prison sentence after an incident in which a friend, James Waughman fell through the roof of a domestic garage - and later died of his injuries.
Mr Mason had been contracted to replace a flat roof on a double garage at a house in Stock near Chelmsford accompanied by Mr Waughman.
While on site Mr Waughman, suffered a stroke and fell through a large gap in the rafters on to the garage floor, suffering multiple injuries. He died in hospital just over three weeks after the incident in June.
Mr Mason, received an eight month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to pay £500 costs at Chelmsford Crown Court in August 2011 after admitting breaching section 3 (2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
This is tragic case sends out a powerful message to roofing contractors. On this occasion, Mr Mason failed to properly consider the risks of the job and consequently act to limit the chances of injury or even death. Mr Mason was required to put guard-rails around the edge of the roof and should have taken measures to prevent anyone falling through it regardless of what size the business is.
The construction industry comes with high risks when working at height and everyone should be aware of the same. Further, the importance of ensuring that the right precautions are put in place, however small the job, should always be appreciated. A Health and Safety Executive Inspector confirms that falls from height remain one of the biggest causes of workplace deaths in the UK.
If you work in the construction industry, or have previously, and believe that your employers failed to take the necessary action to ensure your safety when an accident occurred you may be entitled to compensation. Please do not hesitate to telephone us or complete our contact form for free, no obligation advice.
