Three Firms prosecuted after Solar Installer’s Fatality
A renewable technology company and two subcontractors were prosecuted at Coventry Crown Court last month for safety failings after a worker was killed when he fell seven metres from a roof while installing solar panels.
Kevin Brookes, 35, suffered fatal injuries in the incident on 31 May 2012. Principal contractor Alumet Renewable Technologies was jointly prosecuted with subcontractors Midlands Solar Solutions, who employed Mr Brookes to install the panels, and Rugby Scaffolding Services, responsible for installing edge protection.
The Court heard that Mr Brookes was attempting to retrieve a drill that had started to slide down towards the edge of the roof when he slipped and slid through the handrail, over the edge of the building, landing on his head. Mr Brookes, who was the sole carer for his elderly disabled father, fell into an immediate coma and died 19 days later in hospital.
The HSE investigation found that Alumet had failed to put an adequate health and safety plan in place. The measures outlined in their plan were not sufficient to protect the workers, and those measures that were in place were not being followed by Alumet or the other two companies involved in the work.
The investigation identified that the edge protection did not meet nationally agreed standards. It also revealed that employees of Rugby Scaffolding Services were not properly trained to install the protection and did not have appropriate supervision.
The investigation also revealed that there were unsuitable provisions in place to prevent people falling through the skylights. Alumet was fined £66,000 and ordered to pay £12,491 in costs after admitting breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Rugby Scaffolding Services admitted the same charge and was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay costs of £12,491. Midlands Solar Solutions pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the same Act and was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £12,491 in costs.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Amy Kalay, said: “This fatal fall was entirely and easily preventable. The health and safety plan and mechanisms put in place to carry out the work fell far below the required standards. All three companies had copious experience of working at height to install solar panels and as such should have been experts.”
Working on roofs accounts for almost a quarter of all workers who are killed in falls from heights. Many others are seriously injured and are left with life-changing disabilities. Information on preventing falls is available at www.hse.gov.uk/falls.
For further information on training for safe solar installation, please visit PASS Ltd’s specialist solar training web page.
