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Roofing companies fined total of £150,000, after worker suffers life changing back injuries in fall from height (3 April 2017)

Date: 03/04/2017
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Roofing companies fined total of £150,000, after worker suffers life changing back injuries in fall from height

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted two roofing companies, after a worker fell nine metres through a skylight onto concrete flooring below.

On 15 December 2015, ACG Roofing Limited was working as subcontractor to JDB Industrial Roofing Limited in completing re-cladding work on a fragile roof. At the time of the fall, no nets or guardrails were being used – and the Mobile Elevating Working Platform provided as an anchor point for the fall arrest equipment did not have enough capacity.

When the worker fell, he did not have his harness attached to any supporting structure and suffered life changing injuries in the fall, requiring surgery to insert metal rods into his back.

Coventry Magistrates’ Court heard how a Health and Safety Executive investigation found that the principal contractors of the work, JDB, had failed to put in place effective management systems to control the risk associated with working at height and on fragile roofing.

JDB Industrial Roofing Limited of Brooklands Court in Kettering, Northamptonshire pleaded guilty of breaching Section 13(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The company was fined £112,000 and was ordered to pay costs of £2,216.68.

ACG Roofing Limited of High Street in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £35,000, with costs of £1,721.78.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Edward Fryer said:

“This incident could have been fatal – the worker has suffered life changing injuries due to the company failing to properly plan and supervise work at height.

“This case highlights the importance of proper planning, supervision and implementation of work at height, especially on fragile roofing.”


Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors can advise those who suffer injury in a fall from height caused by negligence on how to make a no win no fee claim for compensation, including claims relating to:

  • Accidents at work
  • Construction accidents
  • Criminal injuries
  • Fatal injury claims
  • Holiday accidents
  • Industrial injuries
  • Military accidents
  • Public liability accidents
  • School accidents
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  • Falls from height claims usually have to be made within three years of injury or diagnosis of injury – children can make personal injury claims up to the age of 21.

    Duncan Lewis also offers supportive legal advice to families whose loved one has lost their life as a result of a fall from height caused by negligence.

    We are also specialists in high-value personal injury claims involving catastrophic or life changing injuries.

    For expert legal advice on no win no fee Falls from Height Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 0333 772 0409.

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