20/12/2010 - Firm fined after roofer breaks back
A building firm has been fined £10,000 after a roofing contractor fell through a skylight and broke his back.
The worker, now 41, fell while removing tarpaulin from the one-storey roof extension at a flat in Collamore Avenue, South West London on December 18, 2006.
James Thompson, who traded as James Thompson Carpentry and Building, was supervising the work on the site.
He was prosecuted after Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigators discovered that he failed to conduct a number of procedures that would have prevented the incident.
This incident will hopefully influence similar businesses to make sure they take every precaution to safeguard against accidents; from safety assessments to securing the best possible liability insurance.
London Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) heard that the tarpaulin had initially been installed to provide weather protection for the ground floor of the flat.
But this snagged when the worker was removing it. He stepped on insulating board that was across the skylight, which gave way, plunging him 3m on to the concrete floor below.
James Thompson, of Onslow Gardens, Wallington, Surrey, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6 (3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. He was handed the fine and also ordered to pay costs of £7,000.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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