Death fall: company and subcontractors fined
Health and Safety Executive v Alumet Renewable Technologies Ltd, Midlands Solar Solutions Ltd and Rugby Scaffolding Services Ltd (2015) Coventry Crown Court, February 6.
Three companies have been fined following the death of a worker in a fall.
Significant points of the case
In May 2012 Kevin Brookes, an employee of Midlands Solar Solutions, was installing solar panels on a roof. He attempted to retrieve a drill which had started to slide towards the edge of the roof. He slipped and fell seven metres to the ground, suffering fatal injuries.
Alumet Ltd was the principal contractor for the project. It had failed to put an adequate health and safety plan in place. The measures outlined in its plan were not sufficient to protect the workers. The measures which were in place had not been followed.
The roof’s edge protection did not meet nationally agreed standards and employees of Rugby Scaffolding had not been properly trained or supervised.
There were unsuitable provisions in place to prevent people falling through skylights.
The following fines were imposed:
Alumet: £50,000 plus £12,000 costs under section 3, HSW Act, for failing to ensure the health and safety of non-employees.
Rugby Scaffolding: £60,000 plus £12,000 for the same offence.
Midlands Solar Solutions: £50,000 plus £12,000 costs for a breach of section 2, HSW Act, for failing to ensure the health and safety of non-employees.