Fragile roofing warning after firm fined for Newcastle worker's seven-metre fall

Date:

29 September 2009

Release No:

NE335:09

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today warned of the dangers of working on fragile roofs, following the conviction of a Lancashire-based company and a director for breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

The warning follows a serious incident in which Mr Lucasz Czuba, 26, of Longbenton, Newcastle fell seven metres whilst carrying out refurbishment work on the roof of a building at "Shoe City", Sands Lane Industrial Estate, Gateshead in July 2007.

At Gateshead Magistrates Court today (29 September 2009) Webber Trading Ltd, of Keighley Mill, 43 Bank Parade, Burnley, was fined £6,000 after pleading guilty to charges under section 3(1) and section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was also ordered to pay £2,838.20 costs and £15 victim surcharge.

Jeffrey Robinson, director of Webber Trading Ltd, who was present on the roof directing the work at the time of the incident, was fined £1,000 after pleading guilty to charges under section 3(1) and section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was also ordered to pay £200 costs and £15 victim surcharge.

The building owners contracted Webber Trading Ltd to carry out industrial roof repairs which involved fitting steel sheets over the existing fragile plastic roof lights. The team of four working on the roof included the director Jeffrey Robinson.

During the course of the work, Mr Czuba stepped onto an unprotected fragile plastic rooflight which gave way and he fell seven metres to the warehouse floor, sustaining serious injuries.

HSE Inspector Martin Smith commented after the case:

"Last year (2007-08) more than half (52%) of the workers who died on construction sites worked in refurbishment, repair and maintenance. Of these, 34 were killed following a fall from height during construction work."

"The measures which should have been taken in order to prevent this incident happening are straightforward and well documented. It is clear that the director and the company failed to recognise the risks posed in working on the fragile rooflights. This serious incident could have been avoided."

In March 2009 HSE carried out an intensive inspection initiative focusing on the risks of work at height associated with refurbishment works. Visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/tripsandfalls/height for more information.

Notes to editors

1. Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 states:
   It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.
2. Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 states:
   It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.
3. Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act stats:
   If an offence committed by a limited company was committed with the consent or connivance of, or was attributable to any neglect on the part of a director or manager of the company, he as well as the company is guilty of the offence and may be prosecuted.
4. HSG33 Health and safety in roof work, and HSG150 Health and safety in construction are available as a free download from HSEBooks http://books.hse.gov.uk/hse/public/home.jsf

Press enquiries

Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.

Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News and PR North East.