Contractor Jailed After Teen Fell Through Garage Roof During Demolition

Brief Summary

A self employed contractor was jailed after a teenager fell to his death during demolition work. HSE found no measures were in place to prevent or reduce the impact of a fall from height, and wider health and safety failures were also identified, including unsafe plant use, poor site control, and a failure to assess asbestos risk.

What Was The Incident?

On 16 August 2023, a 19 year old worker was removing tiles and materials from a garage roof during demolition at a domestic property in Staines upon Thames. He fell through an opening and suffered severe head injuries. He died later on 23 September after hospital treatment.

What Was The Outcome?

The defendant aged 59, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He was immediately jailed for 12 months at Staines Magistrates Court. No costs were awarded.

What Lessons Can Be Learnt?

Plan and control falls from height. The work was carried out directly from the roof with no scaffolding, decking, or other systems to prevent a person falling through or from the structure, showing the need for basic, recognised fall prevention and protection measures.

Do not overlook wider site safety management. HSE identified additional concerns including unsafe mini digger use and a failure to stop members of the public entering the site, indicating that managing health and safety must cover the whole job and the site perimeter.

Assess asbestos risk before demolition or refurbishment. No assessment was carried out to determine whether asbestos was present, even though corrugated concrete sheets later found to be asbestos cement were being snapped and removed by hand. Dutyholders must assess and plan safe methods before work starts.

Control exposure risks for everyone on site and nearby. Workers who received sheets by hand were at risk of fibre exposure, as well as the family whose garage was being worked on, so planning must address exposure control for both workers and others affected by the work.

Ensure legal duties are met even on small domestic projects. Even small contractors and individuals working on domestic work have a legal duty to protect workers and members of the public, and the seriousness of the enforcement outcome shows that failing to implement basic precautions can lead to imprisonment.

HSE Prosecution Link