Roofer dies in ‘tragic’ fall at uncle’s firm

Southwark Crown Court heard how, on 9 December 2015, Daniel Shrimpton was removing flashing from the roof of a two-storey terraced house in Wimbeldon.

Daniel, Ray Strank’s nephew and the only employee of Ray Strank Roofing Ltd, was found lying unresponsive on the ground soon after beginning work and died later that day in hospital.

In a joint investigation between HSE and the Metropolitan Police, it was found that Ray Strank Roofing Limited had failed to properly plan the work and that suitable control measures were not in place.

It was heard that a scaffold, erected on two sides of the building to provide edge protection on all open edges of the roof, should have been provided. However, there was no scaffold on site and it had not been priced for.

Ray Strank Roofing Limited of Sandbourne Avenue, London was fined £50,000 with costs of £5,500 for breaching regulation 4 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It was heard how Ray Strank Roofing Limited’s failings were due to the neglect of Ray Strank, the sole director.

Mr Strank pleaded guilty to breaching section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was sentenced to 200 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay costs of £5,500.

Investigating HSE inspector Gabriella Dimitrov said: “This was a tragic incident, which could so easily have been avoided by the carrying out of correct control measures and safe working practices.”

“Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work fatalities in this country, and the hazards associated with working at height are well known. Similarly, the precautions and systems of work available to control these hazards are also well known and well documented.”