Eastern Hardware Ltd, a Lowestoft-based sheet metal fabrication company, has been fined £3,000 with £3,000 costs after one of its employees fell through a fragile roof while installing air conditioning ducting.
In the incident in April 2008, Paul Garrod fell a metre through a fragile roof while installing the ducting at Express Composites, in Ellough, near Beccles. He landed on internal steel duct work and suffered significant bruising as a result.

The HSE investigation found that Eastern Hardware had failed to provide adequate information, instruction and training for working at height. They had also failed to undertake suitable and sufficient risk assessments or implement safe systems of work for the job. There was no recognition that there was a fragile roof and suitable work at height equipment was not provided.

'Mr Garrod received significant injuries following this incident, causing him to be absent from work for several weeks,' said HSE Inspector, Julie Jarvey. 'Had he not landed on the internal duct work, the fall could have proved fatal.'