An egg production company and a joinery sub-contractor have been sentenced after a worker fell through a roof.

The joiner had been helping to re-roof an old feed mill when he fell through a gap to the concrete floor five metres below.

Poor planning

An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found:

• the roof work was not properly planned
• no measures were in place to prevent or mitigate a fall from the roof

Sentence

T & J Leigh (a partnership) of Ghyll View Farm admitted breaking the Health & Safety at Work etc act 1974.

It was fined £50,000 with costs of £2,855.

Harry Jackson admitted breaking the Health & Safety at Work etc act 1974.

He was given a 16 week prison sentence suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work and pay £2,855 in costs.

The HSE say roof work should always be properly planned with measures in place to prevent a dangerous fall.

It said the case should act as a reminder to anyone commissioning roof work to make reasonable checks regarding the competence of the contractor working at height.