A roofing company has been prosecuted for safety failings during work at height in Brighton.

G & S Roofing Ltd of Pembroke Lodge, 3 Pembroke Road, Ruslip was found guilty in its absence to breaching Regulations 4(1)(a) and  4(1)(c) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 by virtue of Regulation 3(b). It was fined £80,000 with £4,574 in costs.

Brighton Magistrates' Court heard how members of the public had raised numerous concerns over work carried out by G & S Roofing at a property in the town. The company twice ignored written advice to address the issue of working at height in an unsafe manner.

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A member of the public contacted contacted the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after seeing more evidence of operatives hired by G & S Roofing working unsafely from height in August 2016.

An investigation by HSE found one of the company's operatives to be working on the flashings of a chimney from a ladder resting on the pitch of the roof at the unguarded gable end of a two-storey house. There was nothing at the gable end of the roof to prevent a person falling, while there were also no suitable measures in place to prevent a person falling from the gable end, a fall which could have caused personal injury.

A prohibition notice was served but the company took no action to rectify the dangerous working conditions.

HSE inspector Rebekah Dunn said: "The dangers associated with working at height are well-known and G & S Roofing had a duty to protect all operatives from the risk of falling from height. Despite repeated advice, the company failed to put in adequate precautionary measures.

"It is vital for duty-holders to ensure that all issues related to health and safety are suitably addressed, particularly when the issues are highlighted."

(LM/JP)