Roofing company Mitie Tilley Roofing Limited has been fined £881,000 after two workers were seriously injured during two separate incidents
Billy Hewitt, 60, who was employed by Mitie Tilley Roofing Limited and a 24-year-old scaffolder employed by business partner RM Scaffolding were both seriously injured on site.
Billy Hewitt, 60, fractured his pelvis, left wrist and eye socket after falling through the roof of a factory in Newcastle upon Tyne.
He had been replacing a skylight when he fell and landed on the concrete floor seven metres below. Billy was in hospital for three weeks after the incident.
Mitie Tilley Roofing Limited failed to properly plan and carry out the work to replace the skylight
The work at height had not been thoroughly assessed. The investigation also found that safety nets were in place on other sections of the roof but not directly underneath the skylight where the accident happened.
On 3 June 2019, a 24-year-old scaffold labourer fell approximately 20 feet, suffering a fractured femur and a blood clot in a major artery that necessitated long-term medication.
The HSE investigation revealed that Mitie Tilley Roofing Limited, the principal contractor, neglected to plan, manage, and monitor the work conducted by RM Scaffolding, leading to unsafe practices.
Paul Robinson, a business partner at RM Scaffolding, failed to adequately plan the work, ensure staff possessed the necessary skills and knowledge, and neglected to provide proper fall protection on the roof.
The company was found guilty on both separate occasions
Mitie Tilley Roofing Limited was found guilty of breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
This resulted in a fine of £575,000 and costs of £84,940.08 after a two-week trial in April 2023.
In a separate incident on 3 June 2019, the company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, receiving a fine of £306,000 and costs of £27,410.63.
Paul Robinson, a business partner at RM Scaffolding, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, receiving a sentence of 120 hours of unpaid community service and costs totaling £20,428.73 at Newcastle Crown Court on 5 December 2023.
