Bascomb and Drew require better health and safety at work
Bascomb and Drew, a construction and design firm in Berkshire was prosecuted for safety and health failings. One of their workers, who does not want to be named, fell breaking his pelvis and wrist in November 2011. The man fell three metres through a skylight when conducting brick work on a flat roof. The incident happened at Holmsbury St. Mary in Surrey. Bascomb and Drew Construction have been fined 13,000 pounds, along with an additional 4,600 pounds in court costs.
The court listened as the HSE and other witnesses spoke about the health and safety at work incident. The bricklayer was working on the kitchen walls when the incident happened. Workers finished putting on roof joists, but left two holes for the roof lights. These were covered by blue sheeting and marked with timbers on the edge of the tarp. The bricks for the kitchen walls were laid out on the roof so the team could access the bricks when ready. One bricklayer moved off of the scaffolding to the roof in order to access the top of the wall. The man’s foot slipped and fell through the roof light hole. The man is unable to return to work.
The HSE conducted health and safety audits of the incident to determine if any safety and health regulation was breached. The HSE found Bascomb and Drew did not take sufficient preventative measures to safeguard the open holes on the roof.
