Two construction companies have been fined a total of £79,300 after a scaffolder broke his arm, leg and suffered head lacerations from falling through a roof skylight.

James Cranswick, 26, was installing temporary scaffolding edge protection for Clover Access Systems at a warehouse at Acre Mills in Keighley, West Yorkshire, when the incident took place.

CCTV footage shows Cranswick falling onto a pallet truck before landing on the concrete warehouse floor.

He was on the roof carrying materials from one end of the unit to the other when he stepped on a skylight and fell more than 6m.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that both Clover Access Systems and STM360 failed to plan, manage and monitor the work being undertaken by the scaffolders at the unit.

As such, no measures were in place to prevent the scaffolders from falling from the edge of the unit, or through the fragile elements of the roof.

The skylights of the unit were almost invisible to Cranswick, and he was unaware of any fragile elements of the roof.

HSE guidance details a clear hierarchy for work involving fragile surfaces. Those in control of roof work should first avoid the need for access to fragile roofs. Further guidance can be found here.

‘Lucky to be alive’

Clover Access Systems Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Regulation 15.

At Leeds Magistrates Court on 4 June, it was fined £26,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,866.42 and a victim surcharge of £2,000. The company is now in liquidation.

STM360 Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Regulation 13. The company was fined £53,300 and ordered to pay £3,167.73 in costs and a victim surcharge of £2,000.

“Mr Cranswick is lucky to be alive after this incident,” said HSE inspector Shauna Halstead.

“His fall was wholly avoidable; the risks associated with work on, or around fragile surfaces are well known, and HSE guidance is available to assist companies in complying with the law.

“Everyone working in construction should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take enforcement action where roof work is not properly managed, as workers should not be needlessly put in harm’s way.

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Arfaq Nabi and paralegal officer Hannah Snelling.