Accident injury results in suspended sentences for roofers

Two roofers in Derbyshire have received suspended sentences following an accident at work.

Kathleen Philipson was injured when a roll of roof felt crashed through the ceiling of her office and hit her on the shoulder.

Following a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation, contractors Jason Lunt and Gregory Wright were found guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and were forced to pay £2,114 costs, in addition to receiving suspended sentences.

Mr Lunt had allowed re-felting work to start on the office roof before adequate protection had been installed, causing Mr Wright to move around roles of roof felt that were stood on the roof, one of which toppled over and fell through an unguarded roof light.

Lee Greatorx, HSE inspector, stated: "Mr Lunt should have ensured an adequate system of work was in place and that roof lights were adequately protected before repair work began."

Mr Greatorx also asserted that Mr Wright should have been aware that the roof lights needed to be protected.

To ensure workplace safety it is vital that all possible hazards are accounted for, as far as is reasonably possible.

Failure to secure the roof and roof lights is a breach of simple health and safety guidelines.

Published by Kevin Round