Safety Signs News

Safety signs importance highlighted after worker's roof fall

30th March 2011 | Warning Signs, Health and Safety Signs

Posted by Jason Nicholls.

The importance of safety signs in the workplace has been highlighted after a firm was fined because a worker fell through a roof in Bristol, suffering serious injuries.

The city's magistrates' court head how Mike Preddy was repairing an asbestos cement roof at a commercial property at an industrial estate when he fell through a roof light and dropped nearly seven and a half metres.

He sustained multiple fractures to his back, arms, legs and ribs. Associated Roofing & Maintenance, of Taunton, did not provide adequate protective measures to stop the 37-year-old from falling, an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found.

The firm was fined £4,500 and ordered to pay costs of £2,482 after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 9(2) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Steve Frain said: "Work at height carries a risk of serious injury and even death and it is the duty holder's responsibility to ensure workers are protected from falling."

There were more than 4,000 major injuries caused by falls from height at work in 2008/2009, figures from the regulator show. ADNFCR-2754-ID-800480543-ADNFCR