Two roofing contractors have been prosecuted for carrying out unsafe work at height during a roof replacement project in Oldham.

MKM Fabrications of Meek Street, Royton, Oldham pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates' Court to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £66,000 with more than £3,938 in costs.

In addition, Clad-It Limited of Trent Industrial Estate, Duchess Street, Shaw, Oldham pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was also fined £66,000 with more than £3,938 in costs.

MKM Fabrications was employed as the principal contractor to replace the roof on one of the buildings at Valley Mills, Millgate, Delph, which is currently used for textile production.

Clad-It were appointed as sub-contractors to replace a northern light roof structure with a modern composite roof, effectively meaning employees from two companies were working alongside one another.

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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were alerted to concerns that the employees working on the roof had nothing in place to prevent them falling off the edge, or through the roof onto mill workers below.

An investigation by the HSE confirmed these working conditions, with both sets of workers from MKM and Clad-It at risk.

Despite the snowy weather, the roof had not been covered to prevent any person stepping onto fragile skylights and falling through them. In addition, there were no measures to a worker falling through the large gap created after the skylight had been removed. Employees working in the mill were also found to be at risk by falling tools or debris. A a result, Prohibition Notices were served to stop the works until a safe method could be found and put into place.

As principal contractor, MKM Fabrications had the primary responsibility for the health and safety of workers. However, the company failed to effectively plan the safe completion of the project, and also failed to put in place measures to prevent anyone falling from the unguarded sections of the roof.

In addition, Clad-It had a duty to protect its own workers as well as anyone affected by its works. HSE said by allowing company employees onto site without a suitable and sufficient planning being in place, or any physical safeguards to prevent a fall from height, the company exposed its own workers to those risks.

HSE inspector Matt Greenly said after the case: "MKM and Clad-It failed in their duties to protect the roof workers and anyone working below them in the mill from a foreseeable risk of serious harm.

"The risks to workers here were obvious, and neither company thought it necessary to manage the work at height risks properly.”

(LM)