Personal Injury Solicitor Oxfordshire

A self employed roofer has received serious back injury after falling 6 metres in an accident at work.

Michael Hawkins, 23 from Rotherham, fell through a roof at an industrial building in Somercotes, Derbyshire. He has since had to undergo six operations including a skin graft to his back and has been unable to work since.

Mr Hawkins had been subcontracted by Mechanical Solutions Ltd of Mansfield. It was his first day on site. Derby magistrates were told by the Health and Safety Executive that the company had failed to ensure the work was properly planned, appropriately supervised or carried out in a safe manner. In addition the court heard that guard rails for access boards used to move about the main asbestos cement roof, were either missing or incomplete. There was also no safety protection underneath, which was made more significant because there was no netting to prevent workers from falling through the roof into the factory below.

Mechanical Solutions Ltd pleaded guilty and was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £5,366. It is expected that Mr Hawkins will sue the company for back injury compensation.

After the trial, Mr Hawkins said "I have suffered serious injuries, numerous surgical procedures and permanent scarring as a direct result of the company's failure to ensure that the task could be carried out safely. I have been unable to work since and my future job prospects are limited as I am unable to return to my job as a roofer. The effects of the fall will be with me for the rest of my life.”

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