Scots firm fined £183,000 after worker died in 24ft fall through 'fragile' roof

A construction company has been fined £183,000 after one of its workers died in a fall through a fragile roof.

Ross Hanratty, 28, was working to clear roof gutters on two blocks of warehouses for IPSUM Drainage (Scotland) Limited at Seafield Industrial Estate in October 2022 when he fell 24ft.

It is understood Mr Hanratty was wearing a harness, but there was nothing to connect it to. He fell through a section of fragile material on the roof and died as a result of his injuries.

The health and safety investigation was led by City of Edinburgh Council in conjunction with Police Scotland.

On Thursday, IPSUM Drainage (Scotland) Limited (part of the IPSUM Group), of Hillington Park in Glasgow, pled guilty to an offence under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

The offence covered the failure to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk to the health and safety of employees to which they were exposed while working at height in order to clean gutters on roofs, in particular, the hazards presented by fragile roofs.

The company also failed to provide a safe system of work for the cleaning of roof gutters, ensuring proper precautions were taken to prevent a fall from height.

There was a failure to provide such information and instruction as was necessary to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, the health safety and welfare of their employees, in particular sufficient information to Mr Hanratty about what areas on the roof of Unit 2 did not require to be cleaned.

Cllr Neil Ross, convener of the Regulatory Committee, said: “This sentence should send a clear message to employers that the council and the courts take a failure to comply with health and safety legislation extremely seriously.

“We extend our sincere condolences to Mr Hanratty’s family and loved ones at this very difficult time.

“This is a tragic accident that could have been prevented. Mr Hanratty was new to his job and had no previous experience working at heights, he was not provided with the necessary safety information, instruction, and equipment to keep him safe whilst working at height.

“Falls from height are the most common cause of death and serious injury to people at work. Falls through fragile roofing materials account for many of these deaths.

“These incidents can be prevented if reasonably practicable measures are put in place to protect workers.”