5 Nov 2013

Scaffolding firm fined over Tony Causby fall death

Tony Causby was helping to dismantle scaffolding when he fell

A scaffolding firm has been ordered to pay more than £100,000 following the death of a labourer who fell through a warehouse roof in Skelmersdale.

Tony Causby, 42, from Leigh in Greater Manchester, was helping to dismantle scaffolding at the warehouse on Pennine Way on 14 December 2010.

He stepped onto a skylight and fell 42ft (13m) to the floor below.

His employer, S & S Scaffolding, pleaded guilty to two health and safety breaches at Liverpool Crown Court.

The company was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following an investigation into the incident.

The court heard Mr Causby had helped to erect the scaffolding at the end of October ahead of work to replace damaged cladding and guttering on the roof.

He returned two months later as part of the dismantling team, although he was not employed as a scaffolder, the HSE said.

Mr Causby had just returned to the roof with another labourer after a lunch break when he stepped on a skylight, which broke and gave way.

He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The court was told there were around 80 skylights on one half of the roof.

The HSE said the company failed to arrange for covers to be put on the skylights to prevent employees from falling through.

S & S Scaffolding Ltd pleaded guilty to single breaches of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The company, of Arley Way in Atherton, Greater Manchester, was fined £75,000 and ordered to pay £31,517 in prosecution costs.

via BBC News – Scaffolding firm fined over Tony Causby fall death.