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January 13, 2012

Roofer more concerned about beating the rain than safety

A roofer has admitted putting workers and members of the public at risk, after being spotted working on a roof without any fall protection by a passing HSE inspector.

Burnley Magistrates’ Court heard that Ross Singleton, who trades as Ross’s Roofing, and two other workers were carrying out roof repairs at a hairdressers in Colne, Lancashire, on 24 May 2011.

HSE inspector Jacqueline Western was passing the salon and noticed that there were no safety measures in place to prevent the workers from falling. Singleton had also failed to take precautions to stop debris from dropping on to the busy pedestrian footpath below.

Inspector Western took pictures of the men working and then ordered the work to stop immediately. She issued a Prohibition Notice to Singleton, which required the work to stop until edge protection was installed.

When she returned to the site later in the day, she found that Singleton had ignored the enforcement notice by continuing with the repairs without properly addressing the unsafe method of work.

Singleton appeared in court on 12 January and pleaded guilty to breaching reg.6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, and s33(1)(g) of the HSWA 1974, for ignoring an enforcement notice. He was fined £350 and ordered to pay £300 in costs.

In mitigation Singleton said he hadn’t considered the roof to be high enough to need edge protection. He explained that following the issue of the Prohibition Notice he erected a tower scaffold to finish the work, which he accepts did not have edge protection. He told the court that his priority on the day was to finish the work before heavy rain began.

Speaking after the hearing, inspector Western said: “Ross Singleton and the two other men were working nearly three metres above the ground – a height that could have resulted in a serious injury if any of them had fallen.

“He should have treated the Prohibition Notice as a formal warning and stopped work until safety measures, such as guard rails, were in place. Instead, he ignored the notice and has found himself in court as a result.

“Dozens of people die every year as a result of a fall while at work. Roofers should treat the risks seriously and take action to make sure workers stay safe.”

The Lancashire Telegraph also reported on the case, and its story received a number of comments from readers who criticised the prosecution. Some labelled health and safety as “a joke”, saying it prevents people from making “an honest living”.

Singleton himself posted a comment, which said: “I hired the scaffold straight away but it started to rain as soon as were erecting it, which meant I had to go back on the roof to sheet-up to prevent the roof being rain-damaged.

“If I had got a professional to install the scaffolding it would have cost £400-£500. The owner of the hairdressers would not have been happy to cover this charge as well as the roof repairs.

Echoing the sentiments of other commentators, he concluded: “I’m an honest young man trying to make an honest living, rather than most my age, who clearly get every penny they can from the government in benefits.”

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Bill
Bill
13 years ago

some of the local comment may reflect the unfortunate fact that it is the HSE who has to deal with cowboy roofers. This firm do not have the tools for the job, where is the trade body, acting to protect genuine tradesmen who carry the necessary equipment, and would have had to charge a few quid more to do this sort of job safely.

Edward
Edward
13 years ago

Certainly a cowboy roofer, but what is a small business owner meant to do when the customer wants the job done quickly (because the roof leaks) and cheaply (because a small hairdressing shop is not going to have shed loads of spare cash. Absolutely no excuse for endangering the worker or the public but it would probaly have cost as much to install proper scaffolding as to pay the £650 fine and costs.
Mind you, once the HSE start to charge for their advice – £1500 for an IN, 3K for a PN etc..

Graham
Graham
13 years ago

As always accidents and incidents only get measured when they go wrong.
This inspector did her duty to prevent such an incident happening and could do no less.
If persons want to comment on the roofer just earning a living then tell this to families left behind after fatalities, this is when things get measured and blame appointed. I would also like to add that the owner of the shop should ensure that only competent contractors are appointed and not such companies that put the job first.

Mmorrisroe
Mmorrisroe
13 years ago

Where does this stand in the governments attempt to ‘unburden’ the self employed and small enterprises with Risk Assessments and the like. I do understand the ‘low risk’ tag attached to the requirments, but who sets that standard?

Paul
Paul
13 years ago

he would have been sorry if he had fallen and ended up paralysed, the local paper is just as bad

Pete
Pete
13 years ago

I cant understand why someone would put anybody else at risk by not having the correct equipment, it is clear there was no thought about the public or anybody else safety,this was all about getting the job done as fast as possible, money before life, god forbid if there was a death,or seriouse injury what would Ross singleton be saying to the family of the deceased or seriously injured person.
Well done to HSE for stopping, and i hope its a deterent to others.