A Scottish groundworks contractor company has been fined after a worker fell more than seven metres through a fragile roof.

Stranraer Sheriff Court heard how a 42-year-old man had been subcontracted by McKeown Groundworks Ltd to carry out roof repairs on a barn at Whiteley’s Farm in Stranraer.

The man began work on the roof on 24th May 2016. As he walked along the roof he stepped on a translucent light panel which broke under his weight resulting in his falling through the roof to the ground below.

He suffered a compression fracture of the lower back as a result of this incident.

An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found that McKeown Groundworks had failed to adequately supervise this work at height and relied on the experience of the workers to avoid injury while working at height. It was also found that McKeown had failed to plan the work at height and therefore no control measures had been put in place to prevent workers falling from or through the roof.

McKeown Groundworks Ltd, registered at King Street, Castle Douglas, was fined £12,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of the Work at Height Regulations 2015.

HSE Inspector Helen Diamond said after the hearing: “McKeown’s failings resulted in serious injuries which could have easily been prevented had the company planned the work at height. Planning the work at height would have included an assessment of the risks and ensuring that suitable and sufficient measures were in place to prevent falls from height.”

Source : The Construction Index UK