A London based roofing company, McDonald Roofing Contractors Limited, has been fined after a worker fell a distance of nine metres from a flat roof he was working on.

Westminster Magistrates court head how McDonald Roofing Contractors Limited were carrying out re-roofing works at 12 Glebe Road, SW13 0DR. Work began at the end of February 2018. On 12 March 2018 an employee of McDonald Roofing Contractors Limited was carrying out work on a flat roof. Whilst carrying out this work he stepped backwards from the flat roof. As a result of the fall the worker suffered a broken right shoulder blade, a broken right collar bone, and a fracture to the left side of his face.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had failed to ensure that the work at height was properly planned; appropriately supervised; and carried out in a manner which is so far as is reasonably practicable safe.

McDonald Roofing Contractors Limited of 6 Colville Road, London W3 8BL pleaded guilty to breach Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and fined £30,000 with full costs of £1483.00.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Adam Thompson said: “The case highlights the importance of ensuring that work at height is properly planned and appropriately supervised.”

“The incident could so easily have been avoided by having suitable and sufficient edge protection around the flat roof.”