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News Release from: Health and Safety Executive | Subject: Roofwork fatality
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 10 January 2005
Company director jailed after roofwork
fatality
A managing director has been sentenced to a 16-month custodial sentence following a prosecution brought by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
The case, heard at Manchester Crown Court, followed a police led, joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the death of Mr Daryl Arnold on 11 June 2003 Mr Arnold, aged 27, and several others had been employed by Mr Lee Harper of Cannock, Staffordshire, to remove and replace the roof of a warehouse on the Lynton industrial estate in Salford
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 13 Jul 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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No safe system of work had been prepared before the work began and no safety precautions were in place at the time of the incident.
Mr Arnold had never worked on a roof before.
Whilst working on the roof, Mr Arnold stepped backwards onto a fragile rooflight on an adjoining warehouse, which gave way.
Mr Arnold fell approximately 6.75m landing on the ground floor directly below.
He died as a result of his injuries.
Mr Harper, managing director of Harper Building Contractors of Cannock Staffordshire pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter and a breach of Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA).
Commenting on the case Pam Waldron, HSE's Head of Construction for Scotland and the North West, said: "No penalty can make up for the loss of a loved one".
" However, Lee Harper's sentence properly reflects the seriousness of his failure to ensure that Daryl Arnold was safe and HSE is pleased that the matter has been concluded".
" There was a fundamental failure to recognise that the roof included fragile roof lights that will not bear a man's weight".
" Moreover, the equipment to prevent people falling through fragile materials is readily available and relatively cheap".
" A sensible, straightforward approach to health and safety in managing the risks on this job should have prevented this tragic death.".
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