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PHW · Working at height · 2026-01-21

A self-employed roofing contractor in High Wycombe sentenced after a worker fell four metres through a fragile rooflight

High Wycombe · High Wycombe Magistrates' Court

What happened

A worker fell four metres through a fragile rooflight while cleaning and repairing gutters and drains on a roof with unguarded edges. No fall prevention or fall mitigation measures had been put in place.

Injuries: life-changing injuries: fractured skull and cheekbone, fractured leg, broken wrist

The breach

Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005

The sentence

  • Costs: £500
  • Other sentence: eight-month suspended sentence, 280 hours unpaid work
HSE inspector

“This was a tragic but avoidable incident, where an individual suffered life-changing injuries due to working at height.”

What would have prevented it

Fragile rooflights must be protected with guarding or covers, and edge protection fitted, before any roof work such as gutter cleaning takes place.

How PHW helps

The machines, packs and quizzes that fit this kind of site.

Sector

Training and H&S evidence for construction sites

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Safety pack

Working at height

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Quiz

Could you show a site manager today, in writing, that each operator is authorised to use your machines?

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Source: HSE press release, Sole trader fined after worker injured in fall from height