Two construction contractors have received fines totalling £135,000, while one was handed a suspended prison sentence, following the death of a roofer.
Both employers were sentenced at Belfast Crown Court on 7 July after earlier pleading guilty to breaches of health and safety legislation.
Leslie Wright, a Newtownards-based demolition contractor, was fined a total of £90,000. Wright also received a nine-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years. And he was disqualified as a director for 10 years. H Miskimmin Ltd, a construction company based in Donaghadee, was fined £45,000.
The sentencing followed an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI).
Fragile asbestos roof
It followed the death of Raymond Morgan, 43, who fell 5m through the roof of a disused factory on 28 May 2014. He died from his injuries the following day.
The incident occurred during the redevelopment of an old factory site at Comber Road, Newtownards. Demolition, site clearance and removal of asbestos materials was contracted to Leslie Wright and H Miskimmin Ltd.
The investigation found that Morgan and several other workers were on the roof stripping asbestos sheeting which, when removed, was lowered to the ground using a scissor lift. At approximately 12.15pm, Morgan fell through the fragile asbestos roof unto a concrete floor. Preventative measures were not in place to prevent any worker from either falling from or through the roof structure.
In this case, both parties were responsible for the safety failings on site.
Working at height ‘inherently dangerous’
Speaking after sentencing, health and safety inspector Anne Cassidy said: “Working at height is inherently dangerous and carries obvious and well-known risks of death and serious injury from falls.
“This tragic loss of life was avoidable. Where working at height cannot be avoided, all contractors must ensure that safety measures are put in place to prevent falls and protect workers. Where necessary, employers should not hesitate to seek competent advice.”
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What price a mans life? It’s disgusting that the fines are so minimal & worse still a jail sentence suspended! As long as firms get away with a smack on the had they are not going to bother with putting safety measures in place. The only good news from this the others on the roof did not fall into the concrete below!
The sentencing is not strong enough. This is a case of profit over care for individuals. A family have lost a member ,father ,son ,grandfather . This will not make contractors who flout the rules stop continuing to organise work to a non compliant standard and continue to put peoples lives at risk.