The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted the Anglian Water Company after an engineer fell through an unmarked fragile roof light while taking a water meter reading.

In August 2007, 28-year-old technician Matthew Morgan was sub-contracted to IETG Ltd to carry out specialist services on behalf of Anglian Water Services. At the time of his accident, he was taking a reading from a rain gauge on top of a pumping station in Willingham, near Cambridge, when he fell.

Mr Morgan – of Pudsey in Leeds, West Yorkshire – suffered a fractured vertebra, cuts and bruising and has had ongoing back pain since the fall.

During the investigation, HSE inspectors found the company had failed to ensure the health and safety of those working near unmarked fragile skylights.

The HSE also uncovered problems with the safety of a number of machines at Anglian Water Service’s sewage treatment plant in Angel Drove, Ely. Some machines were missing safety guards, which protect workers from dangerous moving parts; and some interlocking devices –designed to isolate power from the machines – were not working properly, meaning the machines could automatically start up when the guards were open.

 On Tuesday (27/04/10) at Ely Magistrates’ Court in Cambridgeshire, Mr Morgan’s employer IETG Ltd – of Hapco House, Cross Green Industrial Estate in Leeds – pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. IETG was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £3,219 costs.

Anglian Water Services – of Anglian House, Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire – pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

The HSE investigation found that company had failed to identify the risks associated with working near the unmarked fragile skylights adequately.

The company was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £3,261 in costs.

The company was also fined a further £12,000 with £6,286 costs, after it admitted breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Penny Leede said that incidents like Mr Morgan’s fall were ‘entirely avoidable’.

‘Falling from height is one of the most obvious and well-known dangers for those working on roofs,’ said Ms Leede.

‘Unfortunately, Mr Morgan is not alone – more than 4,000 British employees suffered serious injury after falling from height in 2008-09. 

‘Employers need to plan ahead and assess potential risks before carrying out any work at height,’ she added. Proper safety guards and the isolation of power from exposed machinery play an important role in protecting workers from dangerous moving parts.’

Ms Leede warned that the HSE would continue to prosecute companies which failed to carry out their duties.

The HSE is currently running a high-profile ‘Shattered Lives’ campaign to raise awareness of how to prevent slips, trips and falls in the workplace.

More information is available at www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives.

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