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July 10, 2013

Worker confined to a wheelchair after roof fall

Two companies have appeared in court after a worker was left paralysed when he fell through an unprotected hole on a roof at a building site in Wiltshire.

Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard Wates Construction Ltd was the principal contractor for the construction of an apartment block at Malborough Park in the town. The company sub-contracted Tego Roofing Ltd to install a vent on the building’s roof.

On 31 August 2011, Giovanni Mastrodomenico was carrying out metalwork prior to the installation of the vent, when he stepped on a waterproof membrane and fell through an unguarded hole in the roof.

He fell four metres through the hole, where the vent was to be placed, and landed on a concrete floor. The 56-year-old suffered multiple injuries, which have left him paralysed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair.

The HSE investigated the incident and found scaffolding under the hole inside the building had been removed because it was obstructing an emergency escape route.

Scaffolding planks had been placed over the hole instead, but were later removed to allow workmen to lay a waterproof membrane over the hole, in preparation for the vent to be installed. This meant that no precautions were in place to prevent workers falling through the hole.

The investigation found both the risk assessment and method statement for the work failed to refer to the installation of the vent. There was also confusion about who was responsible for site supervision at the time of the incident. The site manager had seen the roofers near the hole but neither stopped the work, nor ensured the scaffold boards were replaced.

HSE inspector Keiron Jones explained that Tego Roofing had failed to provide adequate supervision, or instruction for its employees on the roof, and Wates failed to plan, manage, or monitor the work.

Inspector Jones said: “Mr Mastrodomenico’s life, and that of his family, have been completely changed by the management failings on the site. Apart from the pain and suffering he has gone through, his employment opportunities are now restricted and he will never be able to walk again.

“Construction companies and their contractors must have proper plans in place to allow their employees to complete the job safely.”

Wates Construction appeared in court on 8 July and pleaded guilty to breaching reg.22(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007, for failing to properly plan, monitor, and manage the work. It was fined £18,000 and ordered to pay £11,127 towards costs.

Tego Roofing Ltd also attended the hearing and pleaded guilty to breaching reg.13(2) of the same legislation. It was fined £10,000, plus £9460 in costs.

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Bob Kennedy
Bob Kennedy
11 years ago

18k for a company the size of wates is a farce, awards galore, huge contracts awarded by all and sundry to these so called stalwarts of industry?

Not the first time they have been found wanting for work at height failure is it? don`t seem to be learning from it though.

Wonder how the share price is doing?

WAH 2005, 13 yrs to get this far?

Can`t for the life of me see why the SM was not collared as well. Obviously he put Wates in the frame some how, or maybe I am a sceptic?