News Item: Employer Sentenced after Worker Falls 30 Feet Through Skylight
A roofing contractor has received a suspended sentence after an employee fell approximately 30 feet through a glass skylight on a warehouse roof in Blackburn.
Preston Crown and County Courts
Preston Crown Court heard Nizamuddin Gorji was engaged to over-clad the existing roof. He employed three operatives to carry out the work which commenced on 13th May 2020. The following day one of the employees fell through the roof sustaining severe life changing injuries to his pelvis, arm, knee and face and has undergone extensive surgery since.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Mr Gorji failed to adequately plan the roof work or consider the equipment required. There was no scaffolding in place around the building or under-slinging nets, covering fragile skylights and asbestos cement sheets. He had not completed any health and safety training and did not adequately train the operatives he employed.
Nizamuddin Gorji of Woodbine Road, Blackburn pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 9 (2) and 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. He received a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years and was ordered to pay costs of £3,000.