James Cranswick suffered the fall at the warehouse in Yorkshire when installing temporary scaffolding edge protection for Clover Access Systems Limited.

When carrying materials on the roof, he stepped on a skylight and fell through, falling six metres to the concrete underneath.

His injuries included a broken arm, leg and head lacerations.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that both Clover Access Systems Limited and STM360 Limited failed to plan, manage and monitor the work being undertaken by the scaffolders at the unit.

No measures were found to be in place to prevent scaffolders falling from the edge of the unit, or through fragile part of the roof. The skylights of the unit were almost invisible to Cranswick and he was unaware of any fragile elements of the roof.

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Clover Access Systems Limited pleaded guilty to breaching The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and were fined £26,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,866 at Leeds Magistrates Court on 4 June 2026. The company is now in liquidation.

STM360 Limited also pleaded guilty to breaching The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The company was fined £53,300 and ordered to pay £3,167 in costs.

Shauna Halstead, inspector at the HSE, said Cranswick was lucky to be alive.

“His fall was wholly avoidable; the risks associated with work on, or around fragile surfaces are well-known, and HSE guidance is available to assist companies in complying with the law,” said Shauna.

“Everyone working in construction should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take enforcement action where roof work is not properly managed, as workers should not be needlessly put in harm’s way.

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Arfaq Nabi and paralegal officer Hannah Snelling.