Two Construction Companies Fined After Worker Fell Through Roof Skylight

Brief Summary

An HSE investigation found that an employer responsible for construction work failed to properly plan, manage and monitor roof work involving fragile roof elements, leaving no measures to prevent falls from the roof edge or through skylights. Two companies were fined after a scaffolder suffered serious injuries in a wholly avoidable incident.

What Was The Incident?

A scaffolder was working on the roof of a warehouse installing temporary scaffolding edge protection. While carrying materials across the roof, he stepped on a skylight and fell more than 6 metres onto the concrete floor below. CCTV footage showed the fall, and the injured person landed on a warehouse floor after falling from the roof.

What Was The Outcome?

Two companies were prosecuted for breaches of the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015. One company was fined £26,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,866, and it is now in liquidation. The other company was fined £53,300 and ordered to pay costs of £3,167.

Key Points To Consider

Plan roof work so fragile surfaces are treated as a central risk. Where work involves or is near fragile roof elements, there must be a clear, documented approach to avoid reliance on workers noticing hazards such as skylights.

Manage and monitor the work to ensure suitable controls are actually in place. The prosecution highlighted failures to plan, manage and monitor, leaving no measures to prevent falls from the unit edge or through fragile roof elements.

Avoid access to fragile roofs where this is reasonably practicable. HSE guidance emphasises a hierarchy for fragile surfaces, starting with avoiding the need for access to fragile roofs and selecting safer alternatives.

Do not assume workers can see hazards on roof surfaces. The skylight was described as almost invisible and the worker was unaware of fragile elements, showing why controls must not depend on visual detection alone.

Use enforcement outcomes to reinforce leadership expectations on roof safety. This case resulted in significant fines after serious injuries, underlining that HSE will take action when roof work is not properly managed and workers are exposed to avoidable risk.

HSE Prosecution Link