Following a worker's fall through a skylight during the construction of a new farm building in Wimborne, Cutler Bros Ltd. and it's Director, Roger Martin Cutler, have been sentenced.
On 22 February 2019, a self-employed labourer was working with their colleague to help fit roof sheets to the recently constructed steel framed barn. Poole Magistrates' Court heard how the worker, while working from the roof of an existing adjacent barn, fell through a fragile skylight to the ground almost four meters below, suffering head and facial injuries, as well as being knocked unconscious. He then spent two weeks in hospital.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) underwent an investigation, and found that the work was not properly planned. The method they chose had the workers near the fragile roof without sufficient platforms and guard rails in place. The company Director was on site at the time, directing the work.
The company, Cutler Bros Ltd. of Horton Road, Wimborne, Dorset pleaded guilty to breaching the Work at Height Regulations SI 2005/735. As a result, they were fined £5,000, and ordered to pay costs of £3,600.
The Director of the company, Roger Martin Cutler, pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,200 as a result.
After the hearing, HSE Inspector Georgina Symons spoke, "This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply using correct control measures and following safe working practices. Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities/injuries in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well known."
