Two scaffolding inspectors have been prosecuted after a worker fell from height during a re-roofing project in Greater Manchester.

Mr. Stephen Harper of Alkrington, Middleton and Mr. Garry Arnold of Crookes, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 7(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Both men were sentenced to 170 hours of community service and ordered to pay £1,500 in costs.

Greater Manchester Magistrates' Court heard how a 49-year-old employee was working on the re-roofing project on 26 March 2014. As he stepped down from the untiled roof onto a fixed scaffold, he fell through a gap between the working platform of the scaffolding and the building.

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He suffered serious injuries, including fractures to his spine and he had to wear a back brace for eight weeks.

Both Mr Harper and Mr Arnold had signed the scaffolding off as being safe. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed the pair had not carried out the relevant inspections and had falsified the certificates to show that all was safe for use.

HSE Inspector Matt Greenly said: "Scaffold Inspectors are relied upon by workers and must be trusted. Falsely completing reports without carrying out a thorough inspection can lead to serious risks being missed and life changing accidents occurring."

(LM)