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Premier League Aston Villa Fined

Mechanical Cleansing Services Ltd, based in Aston, had been contracted to work on the redevelopment of the Bodymoor Heath complex, near Sutton Coldfield, and had set two of its workers to the task of draining fuel tanks on the roof of an old building that was marked for demolition.

One of the workers fell through a fragile rooflight as he made his way towards a ladder to descend from the roof. He fell three metres to the ground below and broke bones in his heels. His injuries meant that he was unable to work for over six months. The football club, its contractor and the director of Mechanical Cleansing Services, Damon Roe, all admitted to health and safety offences at Stratford-on-Avon’s Magistrate’s Court.

The court heard that Damon Roe had failed to provide his workers with adequate information about access to the site and the safety risks involved. He was fined £1,000 for breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and also ordered to pay £1,610 in costs. Aston Villa pleaded guilty to breaching the Work at Height Regulations 2005, while Mechanical Cleansing Services Ltd were charged with breaching the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

Commenting on the case, HSE Inspector Carol Southerd said: “When working at height all workers must have adequate instruction, training and equipment. It is vital that risks are adequately assessed and managed before employees undertake tasks in hazardous locations. There was clear failure to warn the victim or his colleague of the dangerous condition of the roof or to provide safe access to the tank.”

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