By James Whitaker · Published 29 May 2026 · 3 min read
A Manchester construction firm has been prosecuted after a subcontractor fell through an unprotected skylight, sustaining injuries that left him paralysed from the waist down. JLM Solutions Limited, acting as the principal contractor, was fined £8,000 at Warrington Magistrates' Court on 26 May 2026 following the incident at a domestic property in Altrincham.
Background
The incident took place on 22 November 2023. Adam Kirkpatrick, a 53-year-old joiner, had been subcontracted to construct a timber frame for a new roof. While crossing a piece of unsecured plyboard placed over the rooflight openings, the board gave way. Kirkpatrick fell and suffered severe injuries, including a head injury, fractured ribs, a fractured sternum, and a complete spinal cord injury. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found JLM Solutions failed to plan, manage, and monitor the roof work appropriately.
Industry implications
Falls from height remain a leading cause of workplace fatalities and serious injuries in the UK construction sector. This case demonstrates that principal contractors will face direct prosecution under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 when they fail to implement basic preventative measures on site. The court ordered JLM Solutions to pay £5,850 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge alongside the primary fine, after the firm pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13(1) of the CDM Regulations.
What contractors should do now
Principal contractors must ensure all fragile surfaces and voids are properly protected. Simply placing unsecured boards over openings is an unacceptable risk. Suitable work equipment, such as secure edge protection, crawl boards, or crash decks, must be installed before work at height commences. Site supervision must also be strictly maintained to ensure subcontractors are not bypassing safety protocols.
Analysis
The reliance on informal, unsecured safety measures is a persistent issue on domestic refurbishment and extension projects. The HSE has repeatedly warned that small-scale roof work carries the same proportional risks as major commercial projects. In this instance, the lack of an engineered solution for the rooflight voids resulted in a preventable tragedy. The fact that the victim was discovered by his son, who was the only other person on site at the time, highlights the severe risks of solitary or poorly supervised work at height.
What happens next
The HSE will continue to target falls from height during its unannounced site inspection campaigns. Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Karen Farley noted that the risks are well known throughout the industry. She confirmed that had suitable control measures and appropriate supervision been implemented, the incident would not have occurred. Contractors operating in the domestic sector should expect no leniency if fundamental safety measures are ignored.
Sources
- HSE Media Centre — Health and Safety Executive
- Construction Management — CIOB
