Ad
Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Roofing Firm and Scaffolding Company Partner Sentenced After HSE Investigations

ADVERTISEMENT

Mitie Tilley Roofing Limited, a roofing company, and their business partner at RM Scaffolding, Paul Robinson, have been handed substantial fines and legal penalties following two separate incidents that left workers seriously injured. 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) conducted comprehensive investigations into both incidents, highlighting serious safety shortcomings and ultimately resulting in significant consequences for the companies involved.

Incident 1: Newcastle Factory Roof

On November 11, 2019, Billy Hewitt, a 60-year-old worker from Whickham, suffered a catastrophic accident while working on a factory roof in Throckley, Newcastle upon Tyne. He fractured his pelvis, left wrist, and eye socket after falling seven meters through the roof. Billy was replacing a skylight at the time of the accident and landed on the concrete floor below. He endured a gruelling three-week hospital stay following the incident.

Image credit: HSE

Billy Hewitt recounted the life-altering impact of the accident, saying, “You don’t go to work in the morning and expect to end up in intensive care, but that’s what happened to me. It’s been four years since my accident, and I don’t really do anything with my days. I really miss work. I was a roofer for 40 years, but this accident changed everything because I still can’t work. I used to earn a good wage, but now I’m classed as 51% disabled and rely entirely on benefits.”

The HSE investigation into the incident revealed that Mitie Tilley Roofing Limited had failed to plan and execute the skylight replacement work properly. The work at height had not been thoroughly assessed, and safety nets were absent directly underneath the skylight where the accident occurred.

Incident 2: Plasmarl Industrial Estate, Swansea

Image credit: HSE

On June 3, 2019, a scaffold labourer employed by RM Scaffolding suffered a similarly harrowing incident. While crossing a fragile roof at Plasmarl Industrial Estate in Swansea, the 24-year-old worker fell through a skylight, landing approximately 20 feet below. He suffered a fractured femur and a blood clot in one of his main arteries, requiring long-term medical treatment.

HSE’s investigation found that Mitie Tilley Roofing Limited, acting as the principal contractor for the project, had failed to adequately plan, manage, and monitor the work carried out by RM Scaffolding, the subcontractor, to prevent unsafe work practices. Moreover, Paul Robinson, a business partner at RM Scaffolding, neglected to plan the work adequately, ensure staff possessed appropriate skills and knowledge, and failed to provide the necessary fall protection on the roof.

Legal Consequences

Following these incidents, Mitie Tilley Roofing Limited faced severe legal repercussions. For the November 11, 2019 incident, the roofing company was found guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and breaching the Work at Height Regulations 2005. They were fined a substantial £575,000 and ordered to pay £84,940.08 in costs.

Regarding the June 3, 2019 incident, Mitie Tilley Roofing Limited pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. They were subsequently fined £306,000 and ordered to pay £27,410.63 in costs.

Paul Robinson, the business partner at RM Scaffolding, was not spared legal consequences either. He pleaded guilty to breaching the Work at Height Regulations 2005. Robinson was sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid community service, to be served within 12 months, and ordered to pay £20,428.73 in costs.

HSE Principal Inspector John Heslop emphasised the importance of safety measures, stating, “Too many workers are injured or die every year as a result of falling through fragile rooflights without adequate fall prevention or protection measures in place. These were both shocking incidents, which had a lasting impact on those who were injured. HSE will not hesitate to take action against employers who do not do all that they should to keep people safe.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Popular Categories

Latest news

Avontus to host free webinars on digital scaffold management this November

Avontus Software has announced a series of free, live webinars in November designed to help contractors overcome the everyday challenges of tracking and managing...

Scaff25 announces global line-up of industry leaders for Sydney conference

The Scaffolding Association Australia (SAA) has revealed an impressive line-up of international speakers for its upcoming Scaff25 Annual Conference & Awards Night, set to...

Demolition firm issues statement following Manchester building and scaffolding collapse

Manchester-based demolition contractor P.P. O’Connor has released an official statement following Friday’s partial collapse of a building surrounded by scaffolding in the city centre. The...

Building and scaffolding partially collapses in Manchester city centre

A building in Manchester city centre has partially collapsed during demolition work, with scaffolding and debris seen falling into the nearby River Irwell. Emergency services...

Benchmark Scaffolding wins Silver at national awards

Benchmark Scaffolding has been recognised with the Silver Award in the Specialist Contractor of the Year category at the 2025 National Building and Construction...

Construction leaders unite against government plan to shorten apprenticeships

More than 20 construction organisations, including the NASC, have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer warning that plans to cut apprenticeships to eight months risk undermining skills, safety, and confidence in training.

HSE launches major construction site safety inspections in Manchester

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is carrying out a series of unannounced inspections at construction sites across Manchester city centre this week. Twelve inspectors...

JR Scaffold honoured with Ministry of Defence Silver Award

Paisley-based JR Scaffold has been recognised among a select group of leading Scottish businesses to receive the prestigious Silver Award from the Ministry of...

Brogan Group acquires Sunbelt Rentals UK hoist division

Brogan Group has announced the acquisition of Sunbelt Rentals UK’s hoist division in a deal that significantly expands its operations and fleet across the...

Scaffolding firm hits back at €9.2 million lawsuit claims

The CEO of Global Scaffolders UAB has defended the company’s labour practices after Sweden’s construction union Byggnads filed a €9.2 million lawsuit alleging wage...

Latest news

ADVERTISEMENT

The magazine

Issue 27 | Past issues >>

Popular

Building and scaffolding partially collapses in Manchester city centre

A building in Manchester city centre has partially collapsed...

Construction leaders unite against government plan to shorten apprenticeships

More than 20 construction organisations, including the NASC, have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer warning that plans to cut apprenticeships to eight months risk undermining skills, safety, and confidence in training.

ScaffChamp 2025: Teams Gather in Vilnius for Opening Day

The international scaffolding competition ScaffChamp 2025 has officially begun,...

Brogan Group acquires Sunbelt Rentals UK hoist division

Brogan Group has announced the acquisition of Sunbelt Rentals...

HSE launches major construction site safety inspections in Manchester

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is carrying out...

Related articles

Demolition firm issues statement following Manchester building and scaffolding collapse

Manchester-based demolition contractor P.P. O’Connor has released an official statement following Friday’s partial collapse of a building surrounded by scaffolding in the city centre. The incident occurred at Alberton House, on St Mary’s Parsonage...
ADVERTISEMENTS

Latest topics

Staht secures largest ever distribution deal with Leach’s

One of the UK’s leading testing technology firms, Staht,...

Avontus to host free webinars on digital scaffold management this November

Avontus Software has announced a series of free, live...

Scaff25 announces global line-up of industry leaders for Sydney conference

The Scaffolding Association Australia (SAA) has revealed an impressive...

Demolition firm issues statement following Manchester building and scaffolding collapse

Manchester-based demolition contractor P.P. O’Connor has released an official...
ADVERTISEMENTS