The Net’s Most Wanteds

HSE Inspector Alistair Brown says that the number of roofing accidents is on the rise, with over 34 accidents taking place last year alone. The reason for this rise is chiefly because construction companies or contractors are not bothered about the risks posed by the equipment used at such sites.

Recently, the HSE brought forward a case where a 19-year old boy fell nearly 10 metres off the roof into a factory because of a faulty rooflight and sustained severe injuries. TQR Ltd, the contractors working on roof repairs on the Buttlerfield Industrial Estate in Bonnyrigg, had hired the services of sub contractor David O’Neil to provide the workforce, which included the 19-year old boy.

Both contractors pleaded guilty to breach of provisions 3(1) and 3(2) respectively of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 before Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 31^st August. The court imposed a fine of £6,000 on the contractor and £3,000 on the subcontractor.

Brown, while commenting on the incident, said that despite there being clearly documented guidelines relating to safety measures to be adopted at such worksites, the number of accidents is increasing. He stated that according to the measures laid down in the guidelines, contractors are supposed to check the safety of their equipment before beginning work at a construction site. This is something that both the parties failed to do in the present case, and what many other contractors fail to do, he added.

According to a survey conducted by the HSE in March 2009, it was revealed that nearly one out of every six construction sites does not implement safety measures that can avoid such accidents and minimize height risks. The Working at Height course is aimed at enabling those responsible for such work, such as health and safety managers, facilities managers and safety supervisors, to undertake a suitable and sufficient risk assessment – click on Working at Height Courses for more info on the training offered by experts at Workplace Law.