A company and subcontractor have been prosecuted after a worker fell through a fragile roof at an industrial park in London.

Advanced Industrial Roofing and Cladding Solutions Limited (AIRCSL), of Essex, has been fined £8,000 with £4,278 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 6 (3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

Stephen Bell, of Grays, was fined £1,500 with £2,000 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 15 (2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

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Westminster Magistrates' Court heard how both AIRCSL and Mr Bell were installing a new industrial roof over the existing asbestos cement roof at Brunswick Industrial Estate in New Southgate.

However, during this work an employee stepped backwards onto a neighbouring unit and fell through a fragile roof light. He suffered serious injuries.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found AIRCSL failed to take suitable measures to prevent persons falling whilst working at height, while Mr Bell failed to plan, manage and monitor work being carried out by staff under his control.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Jack Wilby said: "This is sadly another incident involving someone falling through a fragile roof and it is lucky that the injuries were not more severe.

"This incident highlights the importance of planning work at height and putting in place suitable control measures, including those preventing or managing access to fragile roofs."

(LM/MH)