A metalwork casting and machining company has been fined for unsafe work practices after an employee almost fell through a fragile roof.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how an employee of M J Allen Holdings Limited of Kent was working on the roof of the company workshop when he slipped and almost fell through the fragile roof.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive into the incident which occurred on 19 September 2014 found the company failed to provide suitable working at height equipment to carry out tasks. Employees had also not undergone specific related working at height on roof training.

M J Allen Holdings Limited, of Hilton Road, Cobbs Wood Industrial Estate, Ashford Kent, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, and was fined £160,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,767.

HSE inspector Guy Widdowson said after the hearing: “This incident had the potential to cause signifi