A ROOFING company has been fined £40,000 after a worker suffered spinal injuries when he fell through a roof light while working on a property in Cradley Heath.

Dudley Magistrates’ Court heard how staff of Woodhull Roofing Ltd were working on the property with no safety measures in place to prevent them from falling.

The company was contracted by Sandwell Council to carry out work involving coating over roofing bolts in an asbestos cement roof to seal leaks when the incident happened.

While working on the corrugated roof, one worker misplaced his footing while moving a board into another position, causing him to step on a roof light.

He fell through the roof onto a concrete floor approximately four metres below, breaking several ribs and suffering spinal injuries.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the roof work was not undertaken using the correct precautions, including sufficient platforms, coverings, guard rails, netting or similar means of support or protection.

The firm, of Stratford Road, Shirley, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 9 (2) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and has been fined £40,000 and ordered to pay costs of £495.27.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Gareth Langston said: “Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work related fatalities in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well known.

“In this case suitable measures such as sufficient platforms, handrails and netting should have been provided to ensure the health and safety of people working at height on the roof.”