An example of how not to work at height

The image you see above is a bit of an eye opener and a perfect example of how not to work safely at height. What you are seeing is two men working on a roof without any form of safety in place. There is no roof ladder, and the man sitting down is using a petrol-powered tile cutter while sitting on the ridge.

A single slip and either man could fall. If the man holding the heavy cutter falls, not only does he risk injuring himself, he puts members of the public in danger as the cutter could fall and injure passers by.

The Suffolk roofing firm is owned by Anthony Nightingale, who also happens to be the guy using the cutter in the image. The HSE understandably decided to take action and prosecuted Mr Nightingale under the Work at Height Regulations 2005. He now has to pay a total of £4,315 in costs and fines.

HSE Inspector Elizabeth Fowle commented:

"Mr Nightingale should have led by example, but instead he put his own life and the life of an employee at risk. Fortunately no one was injured on this occasion, but it is astonishing that Mr Nightingale thought it was acceptable to use a potentially dangerous piece of machinery while perched at the top of the roof."

Source: HSE