Firm fined £183,000 after worker fell 24-feet through 'fragile' roof

Ross Hanratty was working to clear roof gutters on two blocks of warehouses at Seafield Industrial Estate in Edinburgh in October 2022 when he fell through a “fragile roof”.

He was working for IPSUM Drainage, a firm specialising in utility and infrastructure services, at the time.

A health and safety investigation led by Edinburgh City Council and Police Scotland concluded the accident could have been prevented if Mr Hanratty, who had “no previous experience working at heights”, had been provided with proper instruction, safety information and equipment.

It is understood he was wearing a harness at the time, but there was nothing to connect it to. The area of the roof where he fell was not part of the job the firm was contracted to do, but Mr Hanratty was not informed of this.

IPSUM Drainage (Scotland) Limited pled guilty to offences under health and safety legislation on Thursday.

The offence covered the failure to make a “suitable and sufficient assessment” of health and safety risk to employees working at heights in order to clean gutters on roofs, and 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 also a failure to provide the information and instruction necessary to ensure the health and safety of employees, in particular sufficient information to Mr Hanratty about what areas on the roof of one of the units which did not require to be cleaned.

Edinburgh City Councillor 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.”