Fine issued for working at height without protection

A roofing company from Greater Manchester has been fined after one of its workers was seen jet-washing a roof without using appropriate safety gear.

First noticed by a passing member of the public, the worker was seen standing on the pitched roof and spraying water without wearing any personal protective equipment (PPE) such as a harness. There was also no scaffolding in place.

The incident took place in Tyldesley, Greater Manchester, on 6th June 2013. After being notified by the witness, a Health and Safety Executive inspector attended the semi-detached home, immediately issuing a Prohibition Notice.

The workers were ordered down from the roof and told not to return until the correct safety steps had been taken.

Hearing the case, Trafford Magistrates' Court was told that despite the managing director of the firm attending the site in the morning before work started, appropriate safety measures had not been implemented.

Pleading guilty to the breach of regulations covering working at height and for failing to prove the company had adequate insurance, IQ Roofing Solutions was fined £3,000. A contribution to costs of £2,000 was also demanded.

The firm's managing director was fined a further £1,000 and ordered to pay the costs of prosecution amounting to £1,619.

Speaking after the verdict, the HSE Inspector working on the case, Lara Moran, said that lives were put in danger as a result of the failings. She went on to thank the member of the public for alerting the HSE to the incident and issued a reminder about the risks of working at height.