Lancashire Firm Fined After Worker Falls Through Fragile Barn Roof

A Lancashire-based construction and landscaping firm has been prosecuted following a serious incident where an employee fell 10 metres through a fragile barn roof. The worker was attempting to replace a damaged skylight when the roof gave way, resulting in fractures to his vertebrae, ribs, and pelvis.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed that AJ Riley Landscapes and Building Limited had failed to plan the work adequately. Crucially, the firm did not ensure that appropriate control measures were in place to prevent falls through fragile materials, despite the well-documented risks associated with roof work.

The HSE also discovered that the workforce had not received sufficient training. Although the company had conducted a risk assessment, employees were not competent in using the specific safety equipment and control measures identified in that document. Consequently, the firm pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

For procurement and safety managers, this case highlights the necessity of ensuring that safety equipment is not just present, but that staff are fully trained in its application. When working on fragile surfaces, the use of crawling boards, safety netting, or fall-arrest systems is essential to protect personnel from life-altering injuries.

Source: HSE