A Cambridgeshire based roofing contractor has been fined for safety failings which put three workers at risk.

Stevenage Magistrates’ Court heard Kerry Parmenter, was contracted to carry out roof work at the premises of Cottage Linen Limited in Hertfordshire.

Work on the roof was stopped by the client after they were informed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of unsafe working methods following a site visit.

In January 2015 HSE found that workers were being put at risk by working on the fragile roof without adequate controls and using inappropriate equipment Kerry Parmenter had failed to adequately plan, manage and supervise the work.

Kerry Parmenter, of Paddocks Toll, Forty Foot Bank, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007, and Regulation 9 (2) of the Work at Height Regulation 2005 and was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay costs of £1,459.

HSE inspector Rauf Ahmed said after the hearing: “Work on fragile asbestos cement sheet roofs is a high risk activity with a history of fatal injuries. Workers are at risk of falling through the roof or from open edges if protections are not in place. There is publically available guidance on HSE’s website highlighting the control measures required for carrying out this type of work.”

For further information on working safely at height visit: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg33.htm

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/ 
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk