The employee of T& J Leigh had been helping the joinery contractor Harry Jackson to re-roof an old feed mill building when he fell five metres through a gap, to the concrete floor below causing serious head and arm injuries.
Investigating the incident, which took place at Ghyll View Farm in Longton on 1 November 2016, the HSE found the roof work was not properly planned with no measures in place to prevent or mitigate a fall through or from the roof.
T & J Leigh (a partnership) of Ghyll View Farm pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc act 1974 and was fined a total of £50,000 with costs of £2,855.32.
Harry Jackson of Much Hoole pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc act 1974 and was given a 16 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work and pay costs of £2,855.32.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Steven Boyd said: “This avoidable incident resulted in serious injuries, a fall from this distance could easily have been fatal.
“Roof work should always be properly planned with measures put in place to prevent a dangerous fall.
“Companies commissioning roof work should make reasonable checks regarding the competence of a contractor to undertake work at height safely”
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