A mechanical engineering company has been fined after a subcontractor suffered serious back injuries falling through a roof.
Self-employed roofer Michael Hawkins, 23, of Rotherham, fell approximately six metres through a fragile roof at a large industrial building. He underwent six operations in just six months including a large skin graft to his back and has been unable to return to work since the incident in June 2009.
The company had failed to ensure the work was properly planned, appropriately supervised or carried out in a safe manner. The HSE investigation found part of the roof was only single thickness and therefore considerably weaker in some areas than others, yet the company failed to identify how fragile it was.
Mechanical Solutions Ltd, of Mansfield pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The company was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £5,366.
