HSE prosecuted two firms after company director falls through skylight (23 February 2016)

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted two companies after the director of one fell through a skylight at the other company’s site.

Touch Access Limited (TAL) of Bournemouth attended the site of Beagle Technology Group Limited (BTGL) to clean out the roof gutters.

While carrying out this work on 11 July 2013, the company director of TAL lost his balance and fell approximately 15ft through a plastic skylight, sustaining two broken wrists, a broken elbow and cuts to his face.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive into the incident found that TAL had failed to ensure the work at height was properly planned and carried out safely.

BGTL also failed to provide TAL with adequate information on the hazards and associated risks they would be exposed to in undertaking the work.

Touch Access Limited of Wordsworth Avenue in Bournemouth pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 – and was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,144.

Beagle Technology Group Limited of Stony Lane, Christchurch in Dorset pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 – and was fined £3,500 and ordered to pay costs of £1,144.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Damien Milbourne said:

“Working on roofs is a high-risk activity because it involves working at height.

“Falls through fragile materials – such as roof lights and asbestos cement roofing sheets – account for more deaths as a result of falling from height than any other single cause.

“The risks of working on fragile roofs are well known, but so too are the ways to manage those risks – and all parties involved with work on fragile roofs must ensure the work is correctly planned and managed, to ensure the safety of all involved.”

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