Family Partnership Fined after Worker Falls through Skylight

A family run firm, based in Pembrokeshire, has been fined following an incident in which a worker fell through a skylight.

Incident

The Rees family partnership (consisting of father Gwynne, mother Margaret and son Richard) hired Evans Agri Contracting (EAC) to complete a one day silage harvest on 17th June 2014.

On the day of the silage harvest, an employee of EAC was assisting members of the Rees family, under direction, to sheet the silage by lowering plastic sheeting from the roof of the cattle shed.

It was whilst carrying out this work – work that was being undertaken independently by the Rees family and was not part of the harvest contract – that the worker tripped and fell through a skylight. After falling at least four meters onto the concrete floor below, the 24 year old was left with a broken right arm and elbow. He also suffered severe bruising.

HSE Investigation

Following an investigation into the incident by the Health and Safety Executive, it was discovered that the work carried out on the roof had not been planned. It was also found that there was no risk assessment or safe system in place regarding the prevention of falls off or through the fragile roof.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 17 June 2014 found that the work on the roof had not been planned and there was no safe system for preventing workers falling off or through the fragile roof.

After pleading guilty to breaching Regulations 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, Rees family partnership, of Dinas, Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, was fined a total of £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1121.55.

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Source: Health & Safety Executive