Cardiff Magistrates’ Court was told how, in August 2015, during repair work on the roof at the Homebase store, a HSE inspector witnessed the workers working on a roof which had unprotected potentially fragile roof lights, without sufficient control measures in place.
The HSE’s investigation found the work created a risk of injury to employees from falling from or through the roof, and to members of the public from falling objects. It also found that suitable and sufficient measures had not been taken to protect employees, such as completing the work from the basket of a mobile elevated work platform, and that members of the public had not been protected from falling objects, by closing the store or cordoning off below the work area.
According to the HSE, Survey Roofing Group Ltd and the Survey Roofing Group companies, which share many of the same directors, have received previous advice and enforcement from HSE regarding unsafe work at height.
Survey Roofing Group Ltd of Kingfisher House, Billericay, Essex pleaded guilty to breaching Section 6(3) and 10(2) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, and was fined £36,666 with costs of £28,856.39.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Paul Newton said: “Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well known. All work at height should be properly planned, including short-term reactive work, so workers and members of the public are not put at risk.
“Commercial clients and companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
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How silly of the workers at the Llanishen Homebase with the HSE offices next door never mind putting themselves and pedestrians at risk.