Roofing contractor fined for failing to protect workers

A roofing contractor has been fined after putting the lives of two employees at risk while working at height without protection against falls.

The employees of MW Roofing (NW) Ltd where removing a chimney on a two storey house, at the site on Bertha Road, Rochdale, when they were seen accessing the roof via a cat ladder. While waste material was being removed by buckets carried down the ladder. The company had not put in place any safety measures to prevent people falling off the roof.

Manchester City Magistrates heard that despite having previously received warnings from the Health and Safety Executive about their unsafe working at height practice the company still continued to work in a dangerous manner.

MW Roofing (NW) Ltd of Bury Road, Bamford, Rochdale pleaded guilty to two breaches, Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,440.60.

Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector David Argument said “you cannot ignore the dangers of working at height, it remains the main cause of death and serious injury in the workplace, particularly in the construction industry. Simple measures, such as providing guard rails can prevent death and serious injury”.

For further information on working at height please go to: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/roofwork.htm