The simple lesson from the latest HSE case
A recent HSE prosecution has highlighted a common safety issue: work at height is often treated as routine until something goes wrong.
The HSE reported that Willow Services (Southern) Ltd was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £5,607 costs after a roofer fell through an unguarded loft hatch while working on a domestic property. HSE said the incident was entirely avoidable and resulted from a failure to properly plan the work and provide competent supervision.
This matters because roofing, maintenance, refurbishment and access work often involve hidden risks. A loft hatch, fragile surface, unprotected opening or poor access route can cause serious injury in seconds.
The key point is simple: work at height must be planned before people start work, not after a problem appears.
What went wrong and why it matters
According to HSE, the roofer was working in the loft space of a property when he fell through an unguarded loft hatch. HSE also said falls from height remain a leading cause of fatal incidents in the workplace, particularly in construction.
This type of incident is not just about one hatch or one worker. It points to wider management questions:
Was the job properly assessed before work started?
Were openings identified and guarded?
Was the worker briefed on the risks?
Was there suitable supervision?
Were RAMS suitable for the actual site conditions?
Was anyone checking that controls were in place before work began?
When the answer is unclear, the business is exposed.
Who is affected?
SMEs
Small businesses often work quickly, with tight margins and small teams. That makes planning even more important.
For SMEs, one incident can lead to injury, enforcement action, insurance problems, lost work and reputational damage. A simple pre-start check can prevent serious harm and show that the business is managing risk properly.
Medium-sized businesses
Medium-sized firms often have policies and templates, but the risk comes when paperwork is not matched to the job.
RAMS must reflect the real site. Supervisors must understand what they are checking. Workers must know what to do when conditions change.
Large businesses
Larger organisations need evidence that controls are working across multiple sites, teams and subcontractors.
That means audits, training records, site inspections, close-out evidence and clear escalation when standards are not met.
Multinationals
Multinationals need consistent standards across regions, sites and supply chains.
A work at height failure in one location can affect brand trust, insurance, procurement status and board-level risk reporting.
Contractors
Contractors must be able to show that their workers are competent, briefed and supervised.
A generic RAMS document is not enough. The method statement must fit the work, the property, the access route and the actual hazards.
Subcontractors
Subcontractors are often closest to the risk. They need clear instructions, safe access, suitable equipment and the confidence to stop work if conditions are unsafe.
They should never be expected to “make do” around unprotected openings or unclear access arrangements.
Public sector bodies
Public sector clients and buyers must manage contractor risk properly.
This includes checking competence before appointment, requiring suitable RAMS, monitoring site performance and keeping evidence that contractor controls are being reviewed.
Practical actions to take now
1. Review work at height risk assessments
Check that assessments cover more than ladders and roof edges. They should also consider loft hatches, floor openings, fragile surfaces, rooflights, ceiling voids, access routes and rescue arrangements.
2. Stop using generic RAMS
Generic RAMS create false confidence. Make sure documents reflect the site, the task, the workers, the equipment and the sequence of work.
3. Guard openings before work starts
Any opening that someone could fall through should be protected, covered or clearly controlled. This includes loft hatches, voids and incomplete floor areas.
4. Check competence and supervision
Workers need the right training and experience. Supervisors need to understand what safe work looks like and must be present or available at the right time.
5. Use pre-start checks
A short pre-start check can identify missing controls before the task begins. This should be recorded, especially for higher-risk work.
6. Monitor contractors
Clients and principal contractors should not assume that appointed contractors are working safely. Contractor controls should be checked through site visits, audits, toolbox talks and evidence reviews.
7. Record and close actions
If a gap is found, record it, assign an owner and close it out. A risk register or compliance dashboard helps make sure actions are not forgotten.
TPMG service relevance
TPMG can help organisations turn this type of lesson into practical control.
Relevant TPMG services include:
Health and safety compliance support — helping businesses understand their duties and close gaps.
RAMS review and development — making risk assessments and method statements clearer, task-specific and easier for workers to follow.
Contractor and subcontractor compliance — checking competence, documentation, onboarding, monitoring and evidence.
Work at height training and toolbox talks — helping teams understand practical controls before work starts.
ISO 45001 support and internal audits — testing whether systems are working in reality, not just written in a policy.
Incident recovery and corrective action support — helping organisations respond properly after near misses, injuries or enforcement action.
Digital compliance dashboards — tracking training, inspections, audits, actions and contractor evidence in one place.
Need confidence that your work at height controls, RAMS, contractor checks and supervision are strong enough?
Speak to TPMG about a practical compliance review, contractor audit, RAMS refresh or ISO 45001 internal audit.
