A Runcorn business park operator has been fined £13,000 after a worker fell more than 13 feet through a fragile roof.
The company had been carrying out the work on the roof for almost three weeks and despite regular checks by the engineering manager, no measures were taken to mitigate the dangers posed by the presence of weaker skylight panels. These parts of the roof should have been covered or had perimeter barriers put in place to prevent access.
The employee was conducting the repair when he tripped and fell through an unprotected skylight, landing on the ground more than 13 feet below. The fall was partially broken by rubber matting on the floor of the building, which may have prevented even more serious injury.
The man sustained life-threatening injuries, including a fractured skull and collapsed lung as a result of the fall, which happened while he was carrying out
repairs at a premises on The Heath Business and Technology Park on 17 June 2021.
The work had not been properly planned, and risk factors had not been identified and managed.
An investigation by HSE found that SOG Limited had failed to take appropriate precautions to ensure the safety of workers on the roof.
SOG Resources Limited of The Heath Business & Technical Park, The Heath, Runcorn, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act. The company was fined £13,000 and was ordered to pay £2,666 costs at a hearing at Warrington Magistrates Court on 27 June 2023.
Every employer has a duty to manage the health and safety of those they employ or those who may be affected by their undertakings. Ensure risks are assessed, and take action where it has been identified that control measures are needed.
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