A roofer in the Greater Manchester area has appeared in court after being seen working on roofs with no safety equipment to prevent him and his staff falling.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Mark McKernan. Both he and his employees were seen working on two houses with no safety equipment to secure them to the roof and prevent any fall to the ground. An HSE inspector also witnessed slates being thrown from the roof into a skip below, near busy pedestrian paths.

Mr McKernan pleaded guilty at Trafford Magistrates' Court to breaching Sections 6(3) and 10(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 by failing to take suitable measures to prevent a fall from the roofs, and for failing to provide suitable equipment to remove waste material from the roof. He was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £2,000 costs.

The court heard that the company should have installed a guardrail or scaffolding to prevent an accident that could have resulted in serious injuries. A rubbish chute commonly used to move waste from the roof safely to the ground was also not put in place.

An HSE Inspector said: "Around 11 roofers are killed each year in the UK as a result of falls from height, and the majority of these deaths could have been prevented if those carrying out the work had planned the job properly and taken adequate precautions.

"There was absolutely nothing in place at this site to stop Mr McKernan or his employees falling to the ground below and sustaining serious injuries or even being killed."

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