Cutler Bros. Ltd and its Director, Roger Martin Cutler were sentenced on 29th March 2021 after a worker fell through a skylight during the construction of a new farm building in Wimborne.
Poole Magistrates’ Court heard that on 22nd February 2019, a self-employed labourer was working with another colleague to fit roof sheets to the newly constructed steel framed barn. While working from the roof of an existing, adjacent barn, the worker fell through a fragile skylight in the barn roof almost 4 meters to the floor below. The worker sustained injuries to his head and face and was knocked unconscious. He spent almost two weeks in hospital.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) discovered there was insufficient planning of the work. The approach required the workers to position themselves close to a fragile roof without adequate safety measures such as platforms and guard rails. The Company Director was on site directing the work.
Cutler Bros. Ltd of Horton Road, Wimborne, Dorset pleaded guilty to breaching Section 9(2) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. They have been fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,600. As a director of the company, Roger Martin Cutler pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37(1) of Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and has been fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,200.