Company director fined after worker falls through skylight

The company director of a sash restoration company has been fined for safety failings after a worker fell three metres through an unprotected skylight.

Salisbury Magistrates’ Court heard how an employee of the Sash Restoration Company (Dorset) Limited fell through an unprotected skylight while replacing sash windows on a large manor house, breaking his wrist when landing.

The Health and Safety Executive found that the work was not adequately planned to take account of the risk of working near to a fragile surface. The incident was not reported by the companyand only came to HSE attention following a query about the incident from an unnamed source.

David Richard Garrett, Director of Sash Restoration Company Dorset Limited, of Henford Road, Ensbury Park, Bournemouth, was fined a total of £3,300, with costs of £1,526, after pleading guilty to an offence under Regulation 9(2) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, and Regulation 4(1) of RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Disease and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) 2013.