Farmer handed suspended prison sentence after worker dies from fall.
Farmer handed suspended prison sentence after worker dies from fall.
Phillip France lost his life after falling from the roof of a cow shed in Hampshire.
The labourer had been dismantling the cow shed with two other workers when he fell through a rooflight. Mr France as a result, landed on the concrete floor below on 7 June 2021.
He died from his injuries on 13 June 2021.
An investigation by Health and Safety Executive and Hampshire Constabulary
Investigation shows failures of arrangements in place to either avoid working at height or prevent a fall .
The team of workers were not competent enough, as they lacked understanding of managing the risks while working at height.
The joint investigation found Mr France removing bolt heads from the roof panels. Two colleagues were walking along the roof with the removed panels, before loading them onto a telehandler. Mr France’s colleagues largely continued this working practice the day after the 57-year-old fell.
Philip Tickner, pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
He was handed a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 Months, and ordered to pay £2,000 in costs at Winchester Crown Court on 18 October 2024.
HSE inspector Nicola Pinckney said: “Mr France was a well-known and liked man who lived in the local area and worked on different farms. He regularly visited and helped his elderly mother. He also leaves behind a sister and two brothers.
This was a tragic incident that could so easily have been avoided.
Readily available work at height equipment, and well known safe systems of work could have been created and implemented, using workers who were trained and competent to work at height, none of which happened in this case.
I hope this case serves as an example and a reminder to others in the industry of the deadly risks they often undertake and how they should be approached.
Tip: HSE guidance can be found at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/roofwork.htm
Safety Aide can assist your business regarding Health and Safety, including Risk Assessments, please get in touch on 08000 806 801or email: info@safetyaide.com