broken arm after work fall

A construction worker was "lucky to survive" a 15ft fall through a roof, a court has heard.

Mark Woodward, 25, fell while working for John Ruck Construction Ltd at Leadon Court near Ledbury on December 4, 2006.

The Health and Safety Executive found sufficient measures had not been taken to protect anyone from falling through the fragile roofs adjoining one where the firm was working on a re-roofing contract.

The Leominster-based firm was fined £3,500 with £1,165 costs after pleading guilty to breaching legislation over working at height.

HSE principal inspector Tony Woodward said: "The roof where John Ruck Construction Ltd was contracted to work had measures in place to protect employees but, when the work plan changed, those employees were passing across other roofs which were totally unprotected.

"Mark Woodward suffered a broken arm that, even 12 months later, was sufficiently serious to require ongoing surgery.

"He is extremely lucky to be alive; we would not normally expect someone falling from that height onto a concrete floor to survive."

Copyright © PA Business 2007