Firm fined after worker’s death plunge
A firm has been fined £25,000 after an employee plunged to his death while working at the roof of a Wigan superstore.
According to reports the man was working at The Range DIY store in Chapel Lane when tragedy struck in 2005.
The man, 49 at the time, had moments earlier warned a colleague about the dangers of an accident when he fell 10m onto the ground through a PVC light.
He was immediately rushed to Wigan Infirmatory where he later died from his injuries.
Pleading guilty at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court to charges under health and safety legislation, the victim’s employers, CRN Contracts Ltd, were handed the fine and ordered to pay costs of £14,086.
The work accident would have been prevented if the work had been better supervised and boards had been used to cover the fragile areas of the roof.
In reaction to the accident the Health and Safety Executive, which prosecuted the firm, warned small companies to take health and safety responsibilities seriously.
Updated on 7/24/2009