Safety Signs News

Roof fall highlights warning sign importance

26th February 2010 | Warning Signs

A Lowestoft firm has been prosecuted after a worker fell through a roof and was injured, illustrating the need to use warning signs.

Eastern Hardware Company has been fined £3,000 with £3,000 costs at Lowestoft Magistrates Court after four breaches of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, resulting from the April 2008 accident.

It occurred when an employee was installing some air conditioning ducting at Express Composites, in Ellough, near Beccles, and fell a metre through a fragile roof, landing on an internal steel duct work and suffering significant bruising.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Julie Jarvey commented: "Had he not landed on the internal duct work, the fall could have proved fatal. This case highlights the need for companies to do everything possible to minimise the risk employees face when working at height. "

Recently, a Greater Manchester company was ordered to pay a £24,000 fine at Trafford Magistrates Court, relating to a January 2009 accident in which scaffolding collapsed on a site in the region, highlighting the importance of using construction signs.

Posted by Jason Nicholls ADNFCR-2754-ID-19639153-ADNFCR