Nicolas Vilela spent a month in hospital after suffering horrific injuries in the incident
Credit: HSE
Two companies have been fined more than £100,000 after a “man plunged 30 feet while working on a skate park roof”.
Nicolas Vilela spent a month in hospital after being left with horrific injuries after falling through a skylight at Graystone Action Sports Centre, in Salford, on November 23, 2022, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said.
He had been fixing a solar panel into position on the roof when he stepped back and fell through one of the skylights into the skate park below, narrowly missing several people, according to the HSE. He reportedly suffered a partial lung collapse, broken ribs, pelvis, femur and left wrist as well as fractures to lower vertebrae.
The two companies involved in the work, H20
Renewables Limited and Green Projects Ltd
(GPL), have been fined following a hearing at Manchester Magistrates Court on November 20.
Speaking as the companies were fined, Mr Vilela, 43, said the incident had affected him both physically and emotionally.
He said: “It has had an overwhelming and complicated impact on my life, having, until then, been a very active, dynamic person. A fall from a height of 10 metres is not something you survive.
“I broke my femur, pelvis, wrist, vertebrae and ribs. A lot worse could have happened but l am grateful for the fact that I am alive and can walk, but I will live with this trauma for the rest of my life.
Credit: HSE
“I have developed a fear of heights and a fear of any physical activity that could cause me harm. I am also really worried about how my body will respond in old age as a result of these injuries.
“I am unable to walk for more than a kilometre without feeling pain and getting very tired due to the loss of strength and mobility in my leg. My pelvic fracture impedes me from doing any heavy lifting and I live in fear of damaging it even more.”
The HSE said investigators found that H2O
Renewables Limited were the main contractor engaged in installing solar panels to the roof of the indoor skate park, and had sub-contracted Green Projects Ltd (GPL) to fit the roof mounted system.
H2O were aware of multiple fragile rooflights near to where the solar panels would be fitted, the HSE added. According to the public body, a risk assessment produced by H2O stated cones and warning tape would be used to warn workers of the risk of falling through the fragile roof lights, and fixed scaffolding would be used to prevent risk of falls from the perimeter of the roof.
Credit: HSE
But by the time the work started on 22 November 2022, the HSE said that fixed scaffold had only partially been erected, and only the cones had been placed next to the skylights.
Despite insufficient measures to mitigate the risks, GPLs operatives were allowed to start work to fit the solar panels, the HSE claimed.
Investigators say they found that both H2O
Renewables Limited and Green Projects Ltd had failed to take suitable and sufficient precautions to ensure the safety of workers on the roof. Both companies also failed to put in place a safe system of work for the installation of solar panels that were to be fitted near to many of the fragile roof lights, the HSE said.
H2O Renewables Limited of Hazel Grove, Stockport, pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 13(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. They were fined £106,720 and ordered to pay £40,995 in costs.
At the same hearing, Green Projects Ltd of Albert Street, Oldham, pleaded guilty to breaching regulations 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. They were fined £13,340 and ordered to pay £1,600 costs.
Following the hearing, HSE inspector Phil Redman said: “This was a very serious incident that Mr Vilela was extremely lucky to survive. A fall from this distance frequently results in life-changing injuries or death.
“It is a timely reminder that all work at height activities must be suitably planned, managed and monitored using a safe system of work.”
H2O Renewables Limited declined to comment.
Green Projects Ltd have been approached for comment.
