On 14 July 2020, 22-year-old Adam Brunskill fell through a skylight while working on the roof of a Bestway Wholesale site in Brunswick, Walsall. It was only his second day on the job as a roofer. He suffered a devastating head injury and tragically died in the hospital the next day.
This was not merely a tragic accident. It was a heart-wrenching reminder of how easily disaster can strike when safety measures are ignored.
How it happened
Adam had recently joined Wayne Clarey roofing and cladding ltd and was part of a small team working to over clad the warehouse roof. While moving across the roof he stepped onto an unprotected glass skylight which gave way beneath him. He fell around 7 metres(23feet) onto the concrete floor below. There was no safety nets installed under the roof. The skylight had not been covered or secured. There were no barriers or warning signs in place to prevent a potentially fatal fall.
Why it shouldn’t have happened
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the incident and found multiple serious failings.
No Risk assessment found near fragile surfaces especially in this case there was no metal roofing
No safety Netting or fall arrest system in place
Inadequate training & Supervision
No clear communication
The HSE Inspector Gareth Langston called it “very preventable incident Had these measures been put in place Adam would still be alive”
What do I need to consider to prevent falls from height?
Legal Action & Fines
Proclad (Developments) Limited of Snail Hill, Rotherham pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 9 (2) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and have been fined £400,000 and ordered to pay costs of £9,089.
Wayne Clarey Roofing & Cladding Limited of High Escombe, Bishop Auckland pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 9 (2) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and have been fined £45,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,000.
Director Wayne Clarey of High Escombe, Bishop Auckland pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and
Regulation 9 (2) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was sentenced to 26 weeks imprisonment suspended for 18 months.
These Penalties shows how the law views failure to protect workers not as a mistake but a breach of duty that can cost lives.
Lessons all businesses need to learn:
Adam death is a painful wakeup call not just for roofing companies but for anyone responsible for health & safety.
Fragile surface-Must be clearly marked and protected
Fall protection – Nets, harness should be a must
Risk Assessment- Must be site specific and should be updated regularly
New Workers- Need proper induction even if they have experience
Supervision and Communication - Communication cannot be taken lightly especially in high-risk situations.
Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and work at Hight regulations 2005 must be always followed
Adam was a young man just starting his career. He didn’t get a chance to learn, grow or build a future. His family will never see him come home again not because of bad luck but because simple safety measures were missed. This is more than a story it’s a responsibility every roofer or supervisor must now ask themselves. Could this happen to someone in my team. If the answer is not a confident “No”. Its time to act before it’s too late.
Health & Safety is not about ticking boxes its about protecting lives. Every skylight left uncovered every risk life managed and every shortcut taken puts someone at risk of becoming the next Adam.
Let’s not let anyone else fall through the cracks again.
