A ROOFER and two workmates were caught by a passing eagle-eyed health and safety official working 30 feet up without any scaffolding.
John Hartshone and two employees were spotted carrying out repairs to the roof of Walmsley's Furniture Super-store in Peel Street in Barnsley town centre in January.
Hartshone, of Hazelwood, Monk Bretton, pleaded guilty to a breach of the Work at
Height Regulations 2005 at Barnsley Magistrates' Court and was fined a total of £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £500.
Health and Safety Executive Inspector David Bradley said after the case: "Employers have a legal responsibility to protect the lives and safety of workers.
"This particular project was very poorly planned and there were no controls in place to prevent falls from the roof where in areas there was potential to fall 30 feet to the ground.
"Thankfully no-one was injured on this occasion but had we not been passing and taken action, the outcome could have been quite different, and even tragic.
"Fatalities in the refurbishment sector rose by more than 50 per cent in 2006/7 and falls from height remain the main cause of death, with 23 fatal accidents to construction workers across the country.
"HSE will not tolerate poor safety standards particularly where simple, affordable controls, namely scaffolding, are recognised throughout the construction industry as being appropriate.
"As this prosecution demonstrates, when workers are seen to be put at obvious risk, HSE will not hesitate to take strong enforcement action."
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