A Lincolnshire construction company has been sentenced after an employee received serious injuries from falling through a fragile roof. Boston Magistrates’ Court heard how on 2 May 2017 an employee of Foundations and Buildings Ltd was constructing the roof of a new agricultural building adjacent to an existing barn in Louth, Lincolnshire. While doing so he stepped onto the fragile roof of the adjacent barn, fell five metres onto the concrete floor and broke his back.
An investigation by the HSE into the incident revealed that the system of work in use to control risks from work at height was fundamentally unsuitable as it relied on workers wearing harnesses to control the risk of falling when it would have been more appropriate to use edge protection or nets. In addition to this the investigation determined that although harnesses had been provided, in reality their use was not enforced by the company.
They pleaded guilty and have been fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4814.04
