Falls from heights are leading cause of death and serious injury in the construction industry

The Department of Labour is reminding employers that even if they subcontract work out they are still responsible for providing a safe workplace. This warning follows the sentencing of Roofing Specialists Auckland Limited and Marua Development Limited today in the Auckland District Court.

The two companies each faced one charge under Section 18 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 following an accident where a subcontractor was seriously injured after falling through a skylight in the roof of the building he was working on in May 2009.

Marua Developments Limited engaged Roofing Specialists Auckland Limited to repair the building’s gutters. Roofing Specialists Auckland Limited then engaged a subcontractor to complete the work. While that contractor was working on the roof of the building, he stepped on an unprotected skylight and fell 4.5m to a concrete floor below.

A fine of $14,100.00 and reparation totaling $5,000.00 were imposed on Roofing Specialists Auckland Limited; and a fine of $11,750.00 and reparation totaling $2,500.00 were imposed on Marua Development Limited.

The Department of Labour Northern Regional Manager, John Howard says that falls from heights are a leading cause of death and serious injury in the construction sector. This accident could have been prevented; falls through brittle roofing are a well known hazard and can be identified and isolated.

“It is not enough to simply instruct workers not to stand on skylights. Any brittle roofing material needs to be physically isolated” Mr Howard says.

“The subcontractor was lucky enough to walk away from this accident with his life, when it easily could have been so much different. Employers and people in charge of workplaces need to take all practicable steps to keep the contractors they engage safe”.