29/12/2009 - Employer fined after 26ft fall
A fine of £3,500 has been given to an Oldbury employer after one of his workers fell through a roof and dropped 26ft onto a concrete floor in 2008.
Ian Griffiths pleaded guilty at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on December 18, alongside his fine Mr Griffiths was also ordered to pay £1,408 in costs.
The incident occurred in October 2008 when 35-year-old Craig Thomas and 28-year-old Paul Leggett were working on the roof of industrial units at Camelot Way in Small Heath, Birmingham.
Both men were employed as subcontractors by Mr Griffiths, who had been contracted to repair the building.
Mr Leggett was on the roof when 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.
Health and Safety Executive inspector Mike Ford said: "Mr Leggett was lucky to survive falling 26ft 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."
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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