Builder Jailed After Exposing Roof Workers to Health and Safety Risks

A self-employed builder has been sentenced after exposing roof workers to fall from height risks.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Mr Ranjit Singh Reehal, a self-employed builder, was contracted by a company in Oldbury in the West Midlands to re-line two valley gutters in a roof during July 2016. Mr Reehal’s workers used an angle grinder to cut back asbestos cement sheeting to allow better access to the gutters and worked without any precautions to prevent a fall from the roof, or through a fragile roof which should not be walked on.

The activity came to the attention of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after workers at the company complained of dust, which they knew to contain asbestos, coming down into the factory below.

A subsequent investigation by HSE found Mr Reehal did not plan, manage or monitor construction work to ensure it was carried out without risks to health and safety..

Mr Reehal of Queen’s Close, Smethwick was found guilty of breaching Regulation 15(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2016. He was sentenced to serve 14 months in prison.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Gareth Langston said: “This case shows how important it is that construction contractors plan, manage and monitor work they are paid to carry out. It is important to recognise that it is not wise to ignore an investigation, and you certainly cannot ignore a summons to appear in Court”.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. www.hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

Media contacts

Journalists should approach HSE press office with any queries on regional press releases.

If you require Asbestos training, please see a list of UKATA approved training providers and courses near you.