First prosecution under new height rules

The first prosecution under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 has resulted in a £3,000 fine plus costs.

The Health and Safety Executive prosecuted Michael Mills, owner of MB Mills General Contractors, for breaching the regulations just seven days after they came into force.

In April this year, workers arrived at a site to salvage tiles from a building prior to demolition. They used an unsecured ladder to reach a pitched roof, and started to strip the roof even though no risk assessment had been carried out and no provision made for them to work safely at height.