Small companies warned to take health and safety responsibilities seriously after roofer's death

Date:

23 July 2009

Release No:

HSE/NW/003CRN/09

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned small companies to take their responsibilities seriously, after a man fell through the roof of a DIY superstore in Wigan and later died.

David Battisson from CRN Contracts Ltd in Birkenhead (formerly Concrete Repairs NW Ltd) was working on the roof of The Range store when he fell ten metres to the floor through a PVC light. The 49-year-old was taken to the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan, where he died from his injuries.

HSE prosecuted CRN Contracts Ltd for failing to follow proper safety procedures. The company pleaded guilty to two charges under health and safety legislation, and was fined £25,000 and ordered to pay costs of £14,086 at Manchester Crown Court, Minshull Street, on 23 July 2009.

CRN Contracts Ltd was charged with having contravened Regulation 4 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, and Section 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

The court heard that Mr Battisson and a colleague were applying anti-corrosion paint to the bolts on the corrugated roof of The Range superstore on 27 May 2005 when the incident happened.

HSE Inspector Warren Pennington said:

"It's shocking that basic health and safety procedures weren't followed and extremely sad that, ultimately, it led to a man's death.

"CRN Contracts Ltd did not provide adequate supervision of the work. It should have used boards to cover the fragile roof lights, and protected the area around the perimeter of the roof. The company also failed to cordon off the floor under the section of roof it was working on to protect the public from the work.

"Roof maintenance can be extremely dangerous if proper health and safety rules aren't followed. I hope this case will help to remind people that it's simply not worth taking risks."

Notes to editors

1. Regulation 4 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 states: "Every employer shall ensure that work at height is properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in a manner which is, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe."
2. Section 3 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc 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."

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