A specialist roofing company and its two directors have been sentenced after admitting working unsafely at height on a hotel development in Manchester during a major refurbishment and extension works.

On the 17 March 2015, a member of public witnessed and photographed unsafe work at a construction site and contacted the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

It is pure luck that no-one was injured or killed – HSE
Manchester Magistrates Court heard that the photograph showed one of a pair of directors. Another Director was also witnessed walking along the beam to pass something to his fellow director, then walking back again. There was nothing in place to prevent or mitigate a fall from this beam.

The HSE investigation discovered that there was a full time scaffolder on site who was employed to build any scaffolding required by contractors but on this occasion, the company and its directors had chosen to rush the job in order to submit their invoice earlier.

All three defendants failed to take the proper precautions to manage the risk of a significant fall from height, despite there being adequate provision on site to provide them with scaffolding and safe working platforms.

Enviroply Roofing Limited were fined £13,300 with £1160.50 costs.