Oldbury employer fined after worker fell through roof

An Oldbury man has been fined £3,500 after one of his workers fell 26 feet through a roof onto a concrete floor, breaking several bones.

Ian Brian Griffiths, 41, of Oldbury pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1)(c) and 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and to breaching section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 at Birmingham Magistrates Court on 18 December 2009. He was also ordered to pay £1,408 costs.

The court heard that Craig Richard Thomas, aged 35 from Wolverhampton, and Paul Anthony Leggett, 28 from Oldbury, were working on the roof of industrial units at Camelot Way in Small Heath, Birmingham on 8 October 2008. They were employed as subcontractors by Mr Griffiths, who had been contracted to repair the building.

While Mr Leggett was on the roof, he lost his balance on a crawling board and fell through the roof. He suffered a broken leg, ankle, wrist and nose in the fall.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Mike Ford, said:

"Mr Leggett was lucky to survive falling 26 feet through the roof, landing on the concrete floor below. The equipment provided to these men and the system of work used was completely inadequate.

"The precautions taken to ensure their safety fell far short of what is acceptable.

"Working at height remains a major cause of death and injury at work in Great Britain. Employers must ensure the correct precautions are taken and the right equipment is used."

During the investigation by the (HSE) it also emerged that Mr Thomas had not received adequate training to carry out the job, putting him in danger.

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