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Arcoservices > Industrial News > HSE PROSECUTE RISKY ROOFER ‘SNAPPED’ BY PUBLIC

HSE PROSECUTE RISKY ROOFER ‘SNAPPED’ BY PUBLIC

Stormguard Roofing (Phillip McGinn T/A) of Merseyside has been fined after he and two workers were caught on camera re-tiling the roof of a property in August 2012 without adequate measures in place to prevent falling from the roof edge.

An HSE inspector visited the site in response to a complaint from a member of the public. On arriving the inspector prohibed work until safety further safety measures were in place.

South Sefton Magistrates heard (13 December 2012) that scaffolding was erected at the front of the house but there was nothing at the side or rear of the property to prevent persons falling.

HSE praise member of public for alerting regulator

The firm pleaded guilty to a breach of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 for failing to take measures to prevent workers being injured in a fall. Phillip McGinn, of Maghull, was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £1,668 in prosecution costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Jackie Western said: “There were several ways this work could have been carried out safely, including fitting hand rails and toe boards around the edge of the roof to prevent people falling. Mr McGinn put his own life and the lives of two other men at risk by allowing the work to go ahead without suitable safety measures in place. The scaffolding at the front of the building did nothing to prevent them falling off the side or back of the roof. I would like to thank the person who alerted us about the work as, if they hadn’t, someone could have been seriously injured or even killed.”