Risk, Health and Safety Information

Solar panel firm fined for worker fall in Hampshire

A Dorset company specialising in the installation of solar panels has been fined for safety failings after a worker fell from a roof in Hampshire.

The Gendex Limited employee, who does not wish to be named, stepped through a rooflight at the New Milton and District Community Centre, on Osborne Road, New Milton.

He fell three more than metres into the centre in the incident on 17 February 2012 before landing on a raised platform. This broke his fall and he managed to escape uninjured.

Southampton Magistrates' Court heard today (7 March) that Gendex was installing 68 solar panels on the flat roof of the building over three days.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) established that a scissor lift had been provided for employees to access the roof, as were safety harnesses and training. However, the harnesses could only be used in the lift because there were no attachment points on the roof itself.
HSE also found that no protection had been provided for either the edge of the roof or the two rooflights that were present.

Magistrates were told the company had decided it was sufficient to merely warn employees about the potential fall risks rather than install any safety measures that may have damaged the roof fabric. Scaffolding was also ruled out as a very last resort.

The court also heard that Gendex was served with a Prohibition Notice by HSE in March 2006 relating to unsafe ladder work. So the company, which also does cavity wall insulation, was fully aware of the need to carefully control and manage all work at height.

Gendex Limited, of Bridge House, Court Road, Swanage, was fined a total of £13,000 and ordered to pay £2,477 in costs after pleading guilty to two separate 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 single biggest cause of deaths and serious injury in the construction industry.

"Thankfully the worker avoided injury on this occasion, but he was extremely fortunate to do so. The fall was entirely preventable and Gendex Ltd has no excuse for failing to do more than they did to mitigate the risks he and others faced.

"Roof work must be properly planned and appropriate safety equipment provided."