Community order for builder after man fell through barn roof
A self-employed builder has to complete 200 hours unpaid work. As a man fell more than 13 feet through a barn roof in Lancashire.
James had failed to put arrangements in place to either avoid the working at height completely or prevent a fall.
Jacob Thomas fell through one of the barn roof’s skylights.
Serious Injuries Sustained
Twenty-nine-year-old Jacob Thomas, who was a self-employed labourer, suffered serious injuries. The incident happened during his first day on the job. He had been removing wooden boarding behind the roof of a lower barn structure. Mr Thomas took a step and fell through one of the skylights to the floor below. Horrific injuries included a brain haemorrhage, multiple fractures including to his skull, the sternum, the spine and shoulder.
- Working at height remains one of the leading causes of workplace injury and death.
- Tip: HSE guidance on safety can be found at : working safely at height.
An investigation by HSE found that as well as failing to consider the work at height, the roof in question also contained asbestos fibres. James Dargan-Cole lacked understanding of the risks and controls to manage the risks whilst dismantling the lower barn structure.
James Dargan Cole failed to put arrangements in place for the working at height.
Asbestos still the biggest workplace killer in Britain
HSE’s campaign “Asbestos and You” reminds tradespeople about the dangers of asbestos and the importance of working safely with it. Asbestos can be found in buildings built before 2000 and is still the biggest workplace killer in Britain, causing around 5,000 deaths every year. When disturbed, asbestos releases tiny fibres that can cause fatal lung diseases and cancers.
Tip: HSE guidance on Asbestos safety can be found at : Asbestos & You – Work Right to keep Britain safe.
James Dargan-Cole, of Eastwood Road, Todmorden, pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He was handed a 12 month community order with 200 hours unpaid work in the community and ordered to pay £2,500 in costs at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on 1 April 2025.
Poor planning, management and monitoring
Principal inspector Paul Thompson from HSE said: “Mr Thomas suffered horrific injuries due to the failure to ensure protective fall prevention or collective fall mitigation measures were in place. These are well known and long standing within the industry.
“This incident came about as a result of poor planning, management and monitoring of activities during work at height. I hope this case serves as an example and a reminder to others about the potential deadly risks they often undertake and how they should be approached.”
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