Falling Through Skylight Leads to Fines for Poor Roof Work Planning

Brief Summary

CCTV captured a scaffolder falling more than 6 metres through a fragile skylight after stepping on it while installing temporary scaffolding edge protection. The investigation found failures to properly plan, manage and monitor roof work, and no measures were in place to prevent falls from edges or through fragile parts of the roof. Both companies were prosecuted for breaches of the Construction Design and Management Regulations.

What Was The Incident?

A scaffolder was working on a warehouse roof installing temporary scaffolding edge protection. While carrying materials across the roof from one end of the unit to the other, he stepped on a skylight and then fell over 6 metres to the concrete floor below. CCTV showed him falling onto a pallet truck before landing on the warehouse floor.

What Was The Outcome?

One contractor was fined 26000 and ordered to pay costs of 2866 after pleading guilty to breaching the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015, Regulation 15. The company is now in liquidation. A second contractor was fined 53300 and ordered to pay costs of 3167 after pleading guilty to breaching the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015, Regulation 13. The total fines were 79300.

Key Points To Consider

Plan roof work with fragile surfaces as a primary risk. Work should not proceed without effective planning that specifically addresses the risks of falling from roof edges and through fragile elements such as skylights.

Manage and monitor roof work properly on site. Having arrangements on paper is not enough. Site management and monitoring must ensure the planned protections are in place and used during the work.

Implement measures to prevent falls from edges and through fragile roof parts. The case found no measures to prevent scaffolders falling from the edge of the unit or through fragile elements of the roof, showing the need for robust fall prevention and protection.

Do not rely on workers noticing fragile roof elements. The skylights were described as almost invisible to the worker, and he was unaware of fragile roof elements, which highlights the importance of controlling access and hazards rather than depending on visual detection.

Apply the hierarchy for work involving fragile surfaces. HSE guidance sets out an approach that starts with avoiding the need for access to fragile roofs, before considering other controls, and roof work duty holders should follow that hierarchy.

HSE Prosecution Link