Two companies have been prosecuted for safety failings after a worker fell through a skylight during roof re-cladding work.

JDB Industrial Roofing Limited of Brooklands Court, Kettering, Northamptonshire pleaded guilty of breaching Section 13(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. It was fined £112,000 with over £2,216 in costs.

ACG Roofing Limited of High Street, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire have pleaded guilty of breaching Section 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It was fined £35,000 with more than £1,721 in costs.

Coventry Magistrates Court heard how ACG Roofing had been subcontracted by JDB Industrial Roofing to complete re-cladding work on a fragile roof in December 2015.

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However, during the works an employee fell nine metres through a skylight onto the concrete flooring below. He suffered life changing injuries and required surgery to install metal rods into his back.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that JDB, the principal contractors of the work, failed to have effective management systems in place to control the risk associated with working at height and on fragile roofing.

In addition, no nets or guardrails were being used at the time of the fall, while the Mobile Elevating Working Platform which was being used as an anchor point for the fall arrest equipment did not have enough capacity. The victim's harness was also not attached to anything.

HSE inspector Edward Fryer said: "This incident could have been fatal; the worker has suffered life changing injuries due to the company failing to properly plan and supervise work at height.

"This case highlights the importance of proper planning, supervision and implementation of work at height especially on fragile roofing."

(LM/CD)