A tragic incident at Surface Technik (Old Hill) Limited in Dudley, UK, led to the death of Maciej Rozanski (42) on 29 June 2018, when he fell over 20 feet through a fragile roof while dismantling a steel cleaning machine. He died at the scene.
The company, which is now in liquidation, was found guilty and fined £90,000, while operations manager Robert Hammond, who led the project, was fined £8,500 for failing to ensure safety on site.
Our deepest condolences to Maciej Rozanski’s family, friends, and colleagues. No job should ever cost a life.
What This Teaches Every Roofing Contractor
- Risk Assessments Are Non-Negotiable: Don’t start any job, especially at height, without checking for hazards. Fragile roofs and unstable surfaces can be deadly.
- Planning and Supervision Matter: The work must be organized, supervised, and appropriately planned. Cutting corners can lead to irreversible tragedy.
- Training Is a Must: You must train well your crew to work at heights under different circumstances.
Let’s Make Roofing Safer
- Constantly assess risks before work begins.
- Use guardrails, safety harnesses, and proper equipment.
- Train workers and supervise dangerous jobs closely.
- Keep safety records to prove you’re doing things right.