Liverpool Crown Court heard how, on 5th March 2021, company owner Phillip McGinn and two of his workers were replacing roof tiles on a detached dormer bungalow, in Lydiate on Merseyside.
A member of the public reported a concern regarding unsafe working because there was neither any scaffolding nor edge protection to prevent them from falling.
An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found that Phillip McGinn had failed to take suitable and sufficient measures to ensure that work at height was carried out safely. He had failed to provide sufficient work equipment to prevent a fall or to minimise the distance or consequences of a fall.
The court also heard that this was not the first time that HSE had encountered poor working practices from Phillip McGinn. The HSE took previous enforcement action and prosecuted Mr McGinn for a similar offence in 2012.
Phillip McGinn of Lydiate, Merseyside, was found guilty of breaching Section 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. He received a 13-month suspended prison sentence, 200 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay costs of £1,000.
HSE inspector Anthony Stuart Hadfield said after the hearing: “Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well known. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standard”.
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