The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a Yorkshire-based agricultural building company after a worker fell four metres from a roof.

In January 2009, 28-year-old Dean Lightowler from Goole fell from the roof of a building at Park Farm in Everingham, York while fitting fibre-cement roof sheeting. Mr Lightowler was working for TMN Fabrications Ltd at the time of the accident.

The HSE investigation found that TMN Fabrications Ltd had failed to provide adequate edge protection, nets or suitable work platforms for its employees during the roof work.

A month after the incident, employees were again required to work on the roof without adequate safeguards.

The company also failed to report Mr Lightowler’s fall until March 2007 – more than two months after it occurred.

On Monday (19/04/10) at Beverley Magistrates’ Court, TMN Fabrications Ltd – based at Holme on Spalding Moor in East Yorkshire – was found guilty of breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974; Regulation 3(2) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995; and Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The company –  which is now in liquidation – was fined £22,500 with £7,103 costs.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Geoff Clark said:

‘I hope today’s prosecution reminds companies that inadequate protection when working at height is unacceptable.

‘HSE provides free guidance on the required standards for companies when working at height.

‘If these standards are not followed, it poses a risk of serious – if not fatal – injuries for those at work and HSE will take action.’

For more information about preventing slips, trips and falls from height in the workplace, go to www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives.

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