UK
Ireland
Scotland
London
Construction News
27/01/2011
Farm Building Firms Prosecuted After Roof Fall
A young construction worker suffered life-changing injuries after falling six metres through the roof of a farm building a court has heard.
Richard Cooke, who was 26 at the time of the incident, was dismantling the roof of a cow shed at Manor Farm, Corston near Bath, on 7 July 2008.
Self-employed Mr Cooke, from Cleeve, near Bristol, was sub-contracting for Martock-based Clive Pearce - trading as CW Pearce - who was subcontracted to DB Gibbons (Construction) Ltd of Bristol.
Mr Cooke suffered severe spine and head injuries when he landed on a concrete floor after the roof sheeting he was standing on collapsed under his weight.
Bath and Wansdyke Magistrates Court heard yesterday (25 JAN) that Mr Cooke is now an incomplete paraplegic and requires the use of a wheelchair to move about.
The subsequent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found there were no safeguards in place to prevent Mr Cooke or his fellow worker falling through the roof, or from the edge of the building.
HSE's investigation also revealed the work could have been arranged without the need to go on the roof.
Clive Pearce t/a CW Pearce of Steppes Crescent, Martock pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Pearce was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £500 costs.
DB Gibbons (Construction) Ltd of Western Lane, West Harptree, Bristol pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £14,000 with £3,500 costs at the same hearing.
HSE inspector, Annette Walker, said: "Mr Cooke is a young man who has suffered dreadful injuries as a result of this incident which could have resulted in his death. He and his family are still coming to terms with the lasting effects of what has happened yet this situation could so easily have been prevented.
"Falls from height are one of the major causes of death and serious injury in the construction industry. The risks of working on or near fragile roofs are well known and the safety measures well established, but HSE continues to see tragic cases such as this where work is not suitably coordinated and planned to reduce risks.
"There is a great deal of guidance freely available on the HSE website - there is no excuse for getting it wrong."
(CD)
Richard Cooke, who was 26 at the time of the incident, was dismantling the roof of a cow shed at Manor Farm, Corston near Bath, on 7 July 2008.
Self-employed Mr Cooke, from Cleeve, near Bristol, was sub-contracting for Martock-based Clive Pearce - trading as CW Pearce - who was subcontracted to DB Gibbons (Construction) Ltd of Bristol.
Mr Cooke suffered severe spine and head injuries when he landed on a concrete floor after the roof sheeting he was standing on collapsed under his weight.
Bath and Wansdyke Magistrates Court heard yesterday (25 JAN) that Mr Cooke is now an incomplete paraplegic and requires the use of a wheelchair to move about.
-- Advertisement --
The subsequent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found there were no safeguards in place to prevent Mr Cooke or his fellow worker falling through the roof, or from the edge of the building.
HSE's investigation also revealed the work could have been arranged without the need to go on the roof.
Clive Pearce t/a CW Pearce of Steppes Crescent, Martock pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Pearce was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £500 costs.
DB Gibbons (Construction) Ltd of Western Lane, West Harptree, Bristol pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £14,000 with £3,500 costs at the same hearing.
HSE inspector, Annette Walker, said: "Mr Cooke is a young man who has suffered dreadful injuries as a result of this incident which could have resulted in his death. He and his family are still coming to terms with the lasting effects of what has happened yet this situation could so easily have been prevented.
"Falls from height are one of the major causes of death and serious injury in the construction industry. The risks of working on or near fragile roofs are well known and the safety measures well established, but HSE continues to see tragic cases such as this where work is not suitably coordinated and planned to reduce risks.
"There is a great deal of guidance freely available on the HSE website - there is no excuse for getting it wrong."
(CD)
Latest Construction News
29/01/2025
Caddick Construction has been awarded a £43 million contract to deliver the first phase of Cole Waterhouse's flagship regeneration scheme in Digbeth, Birmingham.
The project, known as Upper Trinity Street, marks a significant step in the area’s transformation.
Spanning 182,986 square feet, the re
29/01/2025
McLaren Construction has been appointed by O&H Properties to deliver the first phase of a £60 million Foster & Partners-designed development at the corner of New Bond Street and Grafton Street in London’s West End.
The seven-storey, 5,400 square metre prime retail and office scheme will feature ret
29/01/2025
GMI Construction Group has been awarded a contract to develop three high-specification warehouse units totalling over 175,000 square feet at Precedent Drive, Milton Keynes.
The £20 million project, commissioned by DV5 Last Mile Developments (UK) Ltd, a joint venture between Coltham and Delancey Re
29/01/2025
Plans for 106 sustainable new homes in Southville, a neighbourhood in South Bristol, have been approved as the city seeks to increase housing delivery to address growing demand.
Top 10 award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group will create a £60 million development on Raleigh Road, on land that was
29/01/2025
Bouygues UK has reached a major milestone in the fourth phase of the Hallsville Quarter regeneration project in Canning Town, London.
The project, part of the £3.7 billion Canning Town and Custom House Regeneration Programme, recently held a topping out ceremony, marking the completion of the 11-s
29/01/2025
Willmott Dixon Interiors is carrying out a significant upgrade to the roof of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, one of London's most iconic cultural landmarks.
As part of the £12 million project, the company is installing over 23,000 square feet of sun-protected glazing above the museum’s
29/01/2025
Equans has been appointed by Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils to carry out crucial decarbonisation work across the councils' housing stock, using funding secured through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF).
The councils used the South East Consortium's Zero Carbon Framework to s
29/01/2025
In the world of construction, the quest for energy efficiency and sustainability is ever-evolving. Among the array of solutions available, EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) insulation stands out as a versatile and effective option for enhancing the thermal performance of buildings, particularly when used f
29/01/2025
BCP Council has completed significant coastal protection works at Hamworthy Park, ensuring its resilience against erosion for the next 20 years.
A 200-metre stretch of sea wall along the eastern promenade has been reinforced using low-carbon concrete, while new steps have been constructed to improv
29/01/2025
Geo-environmental consultancy and remediation contractor, The LK Group, has strengthened its team with a trio of recruits.
The multidisciplinary company's latest raft of hires comprises a new director, associate director and remediation manager.
The geo-environmental specialist, headquartered i
