A Dartford Scaffolding firm and its director have been prosecuted for failing to provide a safe way of working on a fragile roof after a worker fell and suffered serious injuries.

Mr James Froud, 22, from Gillingham, was hospitalised for ten days and had to take several months off work whilst wearing a back brace and using crutches as a result of the incident at Siemans Windpower Compound at Ramsgate Port on 12 October last year.

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Canterbury Magistrates heard that Mr Froud, a scaffold labourer working for London and South Scaffolding Ltd, was fitting hand rails on a fragile rooftop when he fell seven metres through the skylight.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the incident and found that the company and director Gary Peck were aware of how fragile the roof and skylights were, but failed to take adequate measures to prevent a fall, such as using a mobile elevating work platform to avoid standing on the roof, or using staging fitted with guard rails.

London and South Scaffolding Ltd and Gary Peck both pleaded guilty to four separate breaches of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 for not doing more. The company was fined £10,000 and Gary Peck was ordered to pay £15,000 in costs. HSE were awarded £3,000 in costs.

(CD)