Pair of companies prosecuted after skylight fall

Bournemouth Magistrates' Court recently heard that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted two companies following an incident where the director of a company fell through the skylight while working at the other firm.

The director of Touch Access Ltd (TAL), based in Bournemouth, spent time at the site of Beagle Technology Group Ltd (BTGL), to clear the building gutters. To do this, the director climbed onto the roof but lost his balance, causing him to fall through a plastic skylight. He fell 15 feet to the floor, breaking both wrists and his elbow, while also sustaining cuts to his face.

The incident, which occurred on 11th July 2013, was investigated by the HSE, which discovered that TAL had not planned the work to be conducted at height, nor was it being carried out in a safe manner. BTGL, meanwhile, had failed to notify TAL of the potential hazards and risks it would face while carrying out the task.

Both companies pleaded guilty and were fined for breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, while also being ordered to pay costs.

Damien Milbourne, the inspector for HSE, stated that working on a roof has many risks due to working at height. He added that more deaths occur due to falling through fragile materials like roof lights than any other cause.

Milbourne added that there are ways to manage risks to prevent accidents. Risk management may include the use of PPE to avoid accidents and injury.