A roofer has been fined for carrying out unsafe work at height at a house in Bracknell.

Terry Colwell, trading as T Colwell Roofing, of Hardwell Way, Harmans Water, Bracknell, pleaded guilty to a single breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

He was fined £2,000 with £1,966 in costs.

Reading Magistrates' Court heard how Mr Colwell was contracted to undertake roof repairs at Old Bracknell Lane by Grosvenor Court (Bracknell) Management Company on 27 August 2014.

However, Mr Colwell chose to carry out the work without a scaffold, working at heights of up to eight metres with no fall protection or falling object protection to protect members of the public.

-- Advertisement --

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were alerted after a complaint was made to the organisation.

An investigation established Mr Colwell undertook the work for £650. The price of a scaffold would have been between £1400 and £1500.

HSE Inspector John Caboche said: "This was a serious incident that could have ended in tragedy for Mr Colwell or a member of the public had he fallen or had a loose roof tile been dislodged during the repairs.

"The incident was wholly preventable and could have been avoided had Mr Colwell used a scaffold and not undercut the other roofing company and if the operation been better planned and managed.

"It is essential that roof work is carefully assessed by competent persons, with a plan in place to prevent falls of persons and objects. Roof work remains one of the most dangerous activities in the construction sphere.

"Terry Colwell was fully aware of the dangers of roof work and HSE publishes extensive guidance that is readily-available of how to safely manage this type of work."

(LM)