A roofing company has been fined after a worker suffered serious back injuries when he fell from a ladder whilst transporting a bucket full of broken tiles.

Folkestone Magistrates’ Court heard that on 2 October 2018, AU Roofing and Building Ltd workers were working on a roof in Elmes Avenue, Ramsgate, Kent where they were required to carry buckets of materials by hand down the scaffold access ladder. Davey Battams, aged 31, was unable to maintain a constant three points of contact with the ladder, resulting in the fall.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found the contractor had not provided basic lifting aids, such as a wheel and pulley, which would have eliminated this risk.

AU Roofing and Building Services Ltd of Canterbury Road East, Ramsgate, Kent pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974. The company has been fined £28,800.00 and ordered to pay costs of £4,213.70.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Andrew Cousins commented: “This incident could have been so easily avoided by simply providing basic and inexpensive lifting aids, which are industry standard.

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those who fall below the required standards.”