Watershed (Roofing) Ltd – a roofing firm based in Yorkshire – and its director, have been prosecuted following the death of one of its workers.
Barry Tyson, a 52-year-old self-employed bricklayer, was working for the company when he fell through a roof-light, sustaining fatal head injuries as a result.
He was carrying out his duties on a flat roof at Aspin Park School in Knaresborough after Steven Derham – Watershed’s director – tasked him with completing necessary brickwork.
Bradford Crown Court heard that Mr Tyson had been kneeling on the roof when he stood up, lost his balance, and fell backwards through a roof-light.
An air ambulance was quickly called for and it transported Mr Tyson to a nearby hospital, but he later died from his injuries.
According to an investigation conducted by the Health and Safety Executive, Watershed’s construction plan for the work included the removal of plastic domes from the roof-lights so the openings could be boarded over, to prevent anyone falling through them.
However, the domes could not be removed easily, and the problem was discussed with Mr Derham when he visited the site.
It was decided that work could be carried out with the roof-lights left as they were, without being covered, and it was this decision that ultimately resulted in Mr Tyson’s death.
Watershed (Roofing) Limited of Thornton Road in Bradford pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and the company was fined £80,000 and ordered to pay £39,381.32 in costs.
Mr Derham, meanwhile, was fined £7,000 after pleading guilty, in his role as director of the company, to breaching section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Martin Hutton, a HSE inspector that worked on the case, said: “Mr Tyson’s death was entirely preventable.
“The risks of falling through fragile materials are well known in industry and yet they remain an all-too-common occurrence.
“Control measures are often simple and cheap to install and companies must ensure they are put in place before workers are put at risk.”