Worker falls through roof light

A scaffolding company based in Dorset has been fined for safety failings following an incident where an employee fell through a roof light.

Weymouth Magistrates’ Court heard how Weller Scaffolding Limited of Dorset had been contracted to erect access scaffold and perimeter handrails around the roof of a small industrial unit at East Road, Bridport.

An employee of Weller Scaffolding accessed the roof which was constructed of asbestos cement with intermittent roof lights when he fell through one of the roof lights. He suffered three fractures to his face, breaks in his left arm and wrist and dislocated fingers.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the incident which occurred on 17 July 2014 was due to the work not being properly planned, or appropriately supervised which led to it being unsafe.

Weller Scaffolding Limited of Westway Business Park, Dottery Road, Bridport, Dorset, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £10,000 with £5,628 costs.

For more information on scaffolding visit: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/scaffoldinginfo.htm