Worker falls through fragile roof

A Health and Safety Executive invesigation found that Eastern Hardware Ltd of Lowestoft breached four occurrences of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Lowestoft Magistrates Court heard how Paul Garrod, an employee of Eastern Hardware Ltd was installing air conditioning ducting on 5 April 2008. Mr Garrod fell through a fragile roof and landed on internal steel duct work and suffered significant bruising as a result.

The investigation that followed found that the company had failed to provide adequate information, instruction and traning for working at height. The company also failed to undertake suitable and sufficient risk assessments and did not implement safe systems of work before the job began. Suitable work at height equipment had not been provided and there was no signage to indicate that the roof was fragile.

Eastern Hardware Company Ltd has been fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £3,000 costs after four breaches of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, with respect to the company s duties to employees.

HSE Inspector, Julie Jarvey said: "Mr Garrod received significant injuries following this incident, causing him to be absent from work for several weeks. Had he not landed on the internal duct work, the fall could have proved fatal. This case highlights the need for companies to do everything possible to minimise the risk employees face when working at height."

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