Two companies based in Northamptonshire have been fined after a worker died following a fall through a roof.
Northampton Crown Court heard how an employee of A-Lift Crane Hire
Limited, who had been hired by Premier Roofing Systems Limited to
provide them with a crane to lift roofing sheets onto a factory roof at
Virani Foods Limited in Wellingborough. Whilst the sheets were being
lifted onto the roof, the employee fell through an unprotected skylight
and died as a result of his injuries.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the
incident which occurred on 9 August 2013 found that preventative
measures to allow operatives to work safely on the roof were not put in
place.
Premier Roofing Systems Limited, of Unit G, The Grove, Corby
Northamptonshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health
and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and was fined £140,250 and ordered to
pay costs of £41,428.
A-Lift Crane Hire Limited, of Main Road, Wilby Northamptonshire,
pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at
Work etc Act 1974, and was fined £83,300 and ordered to pay costs of
£21,500.