A self-employed roofer has been sentenced this month after exposing a homeowner to carbon monoxide and putting co-workers at risk while working at height.
Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates Court heard how in March 2016 the roofer was in control of work to remove a chimney at a house in Llanharan. During the work he put his co-workers at risk of falling from a height, liable to cause serious physical harm or death.
He also exposed the homeowner, his wife and others who visited the property to carbon monoxide.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the gas supply to the property was not isolated before or during the work, and rubble fell down the chimney damaging and blocking the flue. HSE also found that no scaffolding or other fall protection was in place to work safely at height.
The roofer was found guilty of breaching the Work at Height Regulations SI 2005/735 and Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations SI 1998/2451. He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, plus 180 hours community work, and ordered to pay £1,000 in costs.
HSE inspector Simon Breen commented "persons carrying out building work, particularly on chimneys must make sure that they do not block or obstruct an air supply vent or flue and risk the lives of those in the property. They also need to take suitable precautions to prevent workers falling and suffering serious injuries".
