Roofer fined after fatal fall from height

Date:

28 October 2011

Release No:

HSE/EM/252

A roof worker has been fined after a man fell to his death in Leicester.

Landlord Trevor Hall, 65, of Willoughby Road, Countesthorpe, died after falling around 3.5 metres through a fragile roof light at premises he owned in Saffron Road, Leicester on 8 March 2010.

He had gone onto the roof to observe Kristian Varnam, a director of Roofwise (UK) Ltd, whom Mr Hall had asked to provide a quote for repairs.

An investigation found the roof was made of fragile asbestos cement sheets and clear plastic roof lights, but Mr Varnam took no reasonable or practicable steps to ensure his safety or that of others in going on to the roof. The investigation also found he had failed to inform the building's tenants of his intention to go on to the roof.

At Leicester Magistrates' Court today, Kristian Varnam, of Saunderson Road, Stocking Farm Estate, Leicester, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 7(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was fined £3,500 with £2,742 costs.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Sam Russell said:

"This tragic incident was avoidable. As a professional roofing contractor, Mr Varnam should have been aware of the dangers and used appropriate equipment available to him, such as crawler boards, to safely carry out his assessment. Instead he put his own life in danger by his actions, and that of Mr Hall. In addition, no efforts were made to inform staff in the workplace below that people were on the fragile roof surface, or to put in place appropriate precautions for their safety.

"Falls through fragile materials on roofs are still an all too common occurrence, often leading to serious injury or death. Working at height remains one of the biggest causes of workplace deaths, so it's crucial that employers and individuals make sure work is properly planned, appropriately supervised and that sufficient measures are put in place to protect staff and members of the public from the risks."

Last year more than 4,000 employees suffered major injuries after falling from height at work, and 21 workers in the construction industry died.

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Regulation 7(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: It shall be the duty of every employee while at work to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work
3. Visit www.hse.gov.uk/falls for more guidance on working at height.

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