A FIRM has been fined £30,000 after a roofer fell and broke his hip.

Worcester-based AES Roofing Contractors was handed the fine by magistrates after failing to comply with work at height regulations after one of its workers fell from a garage roof in Worcester.

The roofer broke his hip, fractured his foot and damaged his knee in the fall in February last year.

Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court heard how the worker had accessed the roof using a ladder and was working on his knees with his side to the open edge whilst fitting a rubber trim but without any protection in place on the edge he fell from the roof.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that the work was not suitably planned and although the company owned edge protection and suitable equipment to provide access to the roof, it was not used to carry out work on the garage.

There was no suitable audit system to monitor what equipment was being used.

AES Roofing Contractors of Ankerdine Road in Worcester pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

As well as the £30,000 fine, the company was also ordered to pay £510.30 costs.

Speaking after the hearing, Health and Safety Executive inspector Aaron Fisher said: “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 unsafe work at height without suitable and sufficient controls in place is not acceptable. HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

In the HSE’s recent report on incidents in the last year, it showed falling from height caused 35 deaths at UK workplaces.

The second most common cause was people being hit by vehicles, which caused 25 deaths.

Last year saw 39 people killed by accidents on UK construction sites, which was three fewer than the previous year, but more than the five-year average of 36.

AES Roofing Contractors did not respond to our request for comment.