Recycling firm owner fined after worker roof fall

The owner of a Dorset-based recycling company and a maintenance contractor have been ordered to pay 11,000 in fines and costs after a worker fell through a fragile roof at a warehouse in Poole.

Contract worker Bradley White, 27, had been employed by contractor Michael Davies to replace the roof on a large industrial unit at W & S Recycling on Nuffield Industrial Estate in Poole. The company and its Poole site is owned by Geoff Thompson.

Bournemouth Magistrates Court heard on Friday (November 29) that Mr White had been walking on the cement roof on 27 March 2012 when his foot went through a fragile sheet. He landed on the concrete floor about six metres below.

According to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), he suffered four broken bones in the bottom of his back, a broken hip and pelvis, a shattered femur, four fractures to his left arm, a fractured right wrist and ligament damage.

Mr White was in hospital for three weeks and has had to undergo numerous operations, HSE said.

An investigation found that Mr Davies and Mr Thompson had failed to make sure the work could be carried out safely and both were prosecuted by HSE.

HSE found there was no edge protection, safety netting or any other measure in place at the site to stop Mr White falling or to prevent him from being injured.

Michael Davies, of Kingston Road in Poole, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 by failing to ensure workers were not put a risk. He was fined 2,500 and ordered to pay costs of 2,000.

Geoff Thompson, who trades as W & S Recycling, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 9 of the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2007 by failing to ensure the arrangements made for managing the project were suitable. Mr Thompson, of Nuffield Road in Poole, was fined 1,500 and ordered to pay costs of 5,000.

Roof work

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector James Powell said: The dangers of working at height are well known, yet workers undertaking roof work and building maintenance sometimes die or are permanently disabled because of the poor safety standards and lack of safeguards that still exist among some contractors.

It is essential that the hazards associated with working at height are recognised and understood by the client who commissions the work. The client must make sure the individual or company they employ is competent to carry out roof work and is aware of the hazards and precautions that need to be taken for the work to be carried out safely.

Mr Powell added: Geoff Thompson did not properly asses Mr Davies arrangements for health and safety and determine whether he would be able to do the work safely and without risk.

This prosecution should serve as a reminder to all involved in construction projects, including clients, that they have a legal duty to ensure work at height is properly planned and robust safety precautions are put in place.

When contacted by letsrecycle.com, W & S Recycling did not wish to comment. Mr Davies could not be reached for comment.

W & S Recycling operates household waste and recycling centres (HWRCs) across Dorset, Oxfordshire and Bournemouth, as well as a nationwide business waste, electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) collection service, which it launched in 2009 (see letsrecycle.com story).

The company sorts cans, card, metals paper and plastic at its sites in Dorset and Oxfordshire.