Enniskillen roofing contractor fined following fatal fall from height

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland has successfully led a prosecution against an Enniskillen based roofing contractor who was fined £1,000 after the death of a self-employed roofing contractor on site, who fell from height during the re-roofing of an outbuilding on a County Fermanagh farm.

The self-employed contractor died from his injuries after falling over three metres onto a concrete floor during the construction work. At the time of the incident, both contractors were walking across the roof structure when a wooden purlin broke causing both men to fall.

HSENI Inspector Gavin Rowan said: “Falls from and through roof structures are avoidable. Control measures are readily available within the construction industry to ensure workers are protected. The failure of wooden roof purlins is a common cause of falls from height. Workers should always avoid having to work on roof structures and should consider the use of alternative access equipment.”

The investigation determined that no appropriate measures were put in place to prevent falls from height during the construction work.