Construction company fined £60,000 after worker seriously injured

• Worker suffered life-changing injuries after falling through an unprotected roof light during refurbishment work.
• HSE investigation found the company failed to put suitable measures in place to prevent a fall from height.
• Falls from height accounted for around a quarter of all worker deaths in Great Britain during 2025/26.

A construction company in London has been fined £60,000 after a worker suffered life-changing injuries when he fell through an unprotected roof light while carrying out refurbishment work at a domestic property in Fulham.

On 10 November 2023, a male worker was carrying out roof refurbishment work at a domestic property on Langthorne Street, Fulham. He was working for Lowndes Lumb Construction Limited, passing materials through an open, unprotected roof light during a property renovation. He fell through the opening onto the concrete floor below, sustaining serious injuries.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had failed to take suitable measures to protect workers from the risk of falling from height. Measures to prevent falls, such as scaffolding, guard rails, an internal crash deck or harness systems, had not been used.

HSE guidance states that work at height must be properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out safely by competent people. Work at height means work in any place where, if precautions were not in place, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury.

Relevant guidance can be found here: Working at height: A brief guide .

Lowndes Lumb Construction Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The company was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £6,070 in costs at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 3 August 2026.

HSE Inspector Lydia Edwards said:

"Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of workplace death and serious injury. The latest HSE statistics show they accounted for around a quarter of all worker deaths in Great Britain during 2025/26.

"This was a wholly avoidable incident that resulted in a worker suffering life-changing injuries. Had suitable measures been in place to prevent a fall, this incident could have been prevented.

"If you are working at height and think there is a risk that someone or something could fall, you must take action to control that risk."

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Edward Parton and paralegal officer Melissa Wardle.

Further information:

• The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
• More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
• Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
• Relevant guidance can be found here Working at height: A brief guide .
• HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so. The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here .