Solar panel installer’s height safety warning was not enough

The Gendex Ltd employee, who asked for his name to not be publicised, stepped through a rooflight on the New Milton & District Community Centre in New Milton.

He fell three greater than metres into the building, landing on a raised platform. This broke his fall and he managed to flee uninjured.

The incident happened on 17 February 2012. Gendex was up before Southampton magistrates yesterday (7 March).

The court heard that Gendex was installing 68 solar panels at the flat roof of the building over three days. An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) established that a scissor lift have been provided for staff to access the roof, as were safety harnesses and coaching. However, the harnesses could only be utilized in the lift because there have been no attachment points at the roof itself.

HSE also found that no protection have been provided for either the brink of the roof or the building’s two rooflights.

Magistrates were told the corporate had decided it was sufficient to merely warn employees in regards to the potential fall risks in place of install any safety measures which may have damaged the roof fabric. Scaffolding was also ruled out as a terribly last resort.

The court also heard that Gendex had already been served with a prohibition notice by HSE back in March 2006 for unsafe ladder work. So the corporate, which also does cavity wall insulation, was well aware about the necessity to control and manage all work at height.

Gendex Limited, of Bridge House, Court Road, Swanage, was fined a complete of £13,000 and ordered to pay £2,477 in costs after pleading guilty to 2 breaches of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Adam Wycherley said: “Work at height is inherently fraught with risk, and falls remain the only biggest explanation for deaths and serious injury inside the construction industry.

“Thankfully the employee avoided injury in this occasion, but he was extremely fortunate to take action. The autumn was entirely preventable and Gendex Ltd has no excuse for failing to do greater than they did to mitigate the hazards he and others faced.

“Roof work should be properly planned and appropriate safety equipment provided.”