Family firm prosecuted for negligence
A family firm from Norfolk renting out business units has been prosecuted after a company director died after falling through a fragile roof at one of its properties.
While carrying out the installation on the director fell 10m through the corrugated asbestos cement sheet roof and the impact of the fall caused his death.
Although edge protection had been put in place along the roof, a safe working platform had not been installed, meaning the men had to walk along the horizontal beams of the roof. In addition to this, there were no safety nets or harness systems being used.
The lack of a safe system of work and the failure to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the Director while he was at work, led the HSE to prosecute the firm.
Last year, more than 4,000 workers suffered major injuries as the result of falls from height and 12 lost their lives.
The company was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay costs of £2,320.
Updated on 9/7/2011