HSE/NW/133/07 16 November 2007

HSE warns employers to use safe systems at work when working at height after worker breaks arm

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has today warned employers to ensure they have safe systems of work in place when working at height. The warning follows HSE’s  prosecution of a Merseyside company after an employee fell eight metres through a roof and broke his arm.

Animal feed manufacturer B Tickle and Sons Ltd of Woodend Avenue, Speke  were fined £2,500 and ordered to pay costs of £1,828 at Liverpool Magistrates Court yesterday after pleading guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

On 11 June 2006, John Dyer went onto the roof of the company’s building with a colleague to repair a gutter. They accessed the roof via a fire escape, climbing through the handrail onto the fragile roof where Mr Dyer fell through a skylight.

HSE Inspector Martin Paren said:

“This was an avoidable incident and the consequences could have been far worse. On average one person dies every month at work after falling through a fragile roof or skylight and many others sufferer permanent disabling injury. Contractors and building owners or occupiers have a joint legal responsibility to ensure that construction, repair or cleaning is planned properly and carried out safely.

“If your company does not have the specialist knowledge for this type of work, it should not be attempted. Repairing a fragile roof is potentially high risk. Before work starts, ensure that a competent person assesses the roof using a safe system of work. All those carrying out the repair work must be suitable trained and supervised and follow a method of work based on a risk assessment.”

Notes to editors

1. The Health and safety at Work etc Act 1974 section 2(1) says: “It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.”
2. More information on falls from height can be found on HSE’s website on: www.hse.gov.uk/falls/index.htm

Press enquiries:

Clive Naish, Regional Information Officer
Tel: 0161 952 4517

Public enquiries:

HSE's InfoLine: 0845 3450055
Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG

HSE information and news releases can be accessed on the Internet www.hse.gov.uk

Issued on behalf of HSE by Government News Network North West