Caretaker’s roof fall costs guilty council £19,000

OLDHAM Council faces a £19,000 bill following a caretaker’s fall from a shed roof.

The 61 year old injured his knees, ankles, neck and right hand in the fall at Beever Primary School on Moorby Street on July 27, 2010. He was unable to return to work full time and has now retired.

The local authority was prosecuted for health and safety breaches by the Health and Safety Executive for failing to take steps to prevent a fall.

Trafford Magistrates heard the caretaker had been doing maintenance work on the vandalised shed roof.

he had climbed on to the roof tripped and fell 10ft to the concrete below. The court heard he hadn’t received any training for working at heights.

Oldham Council was found guilty of breaching height-working regulations and fined £7000 with £12,260 costs.