Two companies have been fined after a man fell through a fragile rooflight at a factory and impaled his leg on the machinery below.
The principal contractor and sub-contractor were fined a combined total of more than £95,000 following a prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Directors for each firm were also given conditional discharges and ordered to pay prosecution costs.
How it happened
On the 8th of July 2022, the man had been working on a roof placing cladding over an existing asbestos cement roof when he stepped onto a rooflight which caused him to fall from height onto a machine below. His leg was impaled on the machine but luckily only sustained minor injuries.
The Investigation and findings:
The results of the HSE investigation found that principal contractor had failed to ensure that the works were properly planned, and that neither they nor their sub-contractor, had effective preventative and protective measures in place to control the risks associated with roof work. They also failed to ensure that the correct equipment and tools were in place to undertake the work safely.
Legal Consequences:
The principal contractor pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £47,783 and ordered to pay £2,386 in costs at Magistrates’ Court on 1 October 2025.
Their company director pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37(1) of the same Act. He received a two-year conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £2,369 in costs.
The sub-contractor pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Act. The company was fined £47,818 and ordered to pay £2,518 in costs.
Their company director pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37(1) of the same Act. He received a two-year conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £2,369 in costs.
HSE’s Statement:
The HSE principal inspector Paul Thompson, who investigated the incident, said:
“People working on the roof and those working below within the factory were placed at serious risk. Had the man landed just a short distance either side of where he was impaled, this could have been a wholly different outcome.
“Work at height continues to be the leading cause of workplace fatalities, and had this work been planned, managed, and monitored to a sufficient standard by all parties involved, then this incident should not have occurred.”
Safety implications and lessons learned:
Careful planning of roof work is essential. Whether it is major project, simply replacing a few roof tiles or clearing gutters all employers must:
· Avoid work at height where they can.
· Use appropriate measures to prevent falls were working at height cannot be avoided.
· Minimise the distance and consequences of a fall where they cannot eliminate the risk of a fall.
Whenever roof work takes place employers must make sure that.
· All work at height is properly planned, organised, supervised, and conducted safely.
· The place where work at height is conducted is safe.
· All work at height takes account of the weather conditions e.g. high winds, snow, ice, and inclement weather which could increase the hazards and risk faced by workers.
· Workers involved in work at height are instructed and trained in working safely on the roof.
· Workers are fully aware of the hazards of the roof they are working on e.g. roof lights, are instructed on the precautions to take and aware of the safe system of work planned by their employer.
· The work is properly supervised and managed.
· Equipment for work at height is appropriate and in good condition.
· The risks from fragile surfaces are properly controlled.
· Injury from falling objects is prevented.
Summary:
The incident illustrates the consequences of failing to manage the risk of working at height in particular working on fragile roofs.
Implementing effective risk assessments, safe systems, using the correct tools and proper training are not optional, but are legal requirements that protect both employees and organisations.
