A company has been fined after a worker fell through a fragile roof in Somerset.

T Broom Construction Limited of Pine Park Road, Honiton, Devon pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 (1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It has been fined £6,700 with more than £1,016 in costs.

Taunton Magistrates' Court heard that 26-year old Ryan Sartin was working for the company to repair a roof at Home Farm, Shepton Beauchamp on 23 June 2016.


However, during the work he fell more than five metres through a fragile roof onto concrete flooring. His injuries included a broken pelvis and wrist as a result of the fall.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company failed to plan the work to ensure that it was carried out in a safe manner. No safety netting had been installed to mitigate the consequences of a fall through the roof and no handrail was provided around the roof edge to prevent falls from the roof.

HSE inspector James Lucas said: "Mr Sartin is very lucky he did not sustain more life threatening injuries as a result of this incident.

"T Broom Construction Limited failed in its duty to protect employees working at height by not appropriately planning the work. Suitable planning would have identified the measures required to minimise the risks of a fall from height."

(LM/MH)