Construction firm fined £33,500 over fatal rooftop fall

A construction company has been penalized after a worker died in what health and safety officials called a “wholly avoidable” fall through an unprotected skylight, highlighting ongoing concerns about height safety in the industry.

Skyladder Construction Limited has been fined £33,500 after a worker died from falling through an unprotected skylight opening at a Farnborough site in July 2022, according to the BBC.

Bhakta Rai fell 2.5 meters onto concrete while working on a roof late at night. The company pleaded guilty at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on 31 October to violations of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Jenny Morris described the incident as “wholly avoidable,” noting that falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace fatalities in Britain, accounting for approximately 25% of all worker deaths.

The investigation revealed no safety measures were in place on the roof, and the company failed to provide information required under health and safety legislation. The court also heard that no ambulance was called, with Mr. Rai instead transported to hospital in a van.

In addition to the fine, Skyladder Construction was ordered to pay £8,472 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge. The company was unavailable for comment, the BBC reported.