Roofer given suspended sentence after man falls from scaffold
A self-employed roofer, Daniel Hooper, received a 16-week suspended prison sentence after an employee, Iain Smith, fell from scaffolding in Honiton on June 13, 2023, suffering serious injuries. Smith, 36, fell from over 25 feet while carrying slate tiles down a ladder, breaking five vertebrae and fracturing his skull and ribs. He spent five days in a coma but is recovering.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found Hooper, 28, failed to plan, supervise, or provide proper equipment for the work at height. Hooper pleaded guilty to breaching safety regulations and was sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work and £10,875 in costs. HSE emphasized that safer methods for moving materials, like using a pulley system, should be used to prevent falls.
This is a harsh reminder of the consequences of walking materials up or down a ladder. Three points of contact must be always maintained whilst using a ladder, which is impossible if you are carrying materials. This work practice is strictly forbidden at Alltask.
Source: Roofer given suspended sentence after man falls from scaffold – HSE Media Centre