He fell 20 feet - The warning signs were there all along

Surface Technik (Old Hill) Limited (in liquidation) and its operations manager, Robert Hammond, have been penalised following the tragic and entirely preventable death of 42-year-old Maciej Rozanski.

Mr Rozanski lost his life after falling through a fragile roof while working at the company's Sovereign Works site on Deepdale Lane in Dudley.

The fatal incident occurred on June 29, 2018, during the dismantling and removal of an old steel cleaning machine that had become redundant. Mr Rozanski, along with a colleague, was carrying out this work as part of a broader decommissioning project that had begun in December 2017. While using an angle grinder to remove bolts securing steel plates to the structure, Mr Rozanski inadvertently stepped onto a fragile section of roof. The surface was not designed to support a person’s weight and gave way beneath him. He fell more than 20 feet to the ground below and sustained catastrophic injuries. Emergency services attended the scene, but tragically, Mr Rozanski was pronounced dead on-site.

An in-depth investigation was carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which uncovered a number of serious and systemic failings in how the work had been planned and carried out. These failures directly contributed to the incident that claimed Mr Rozanski’s life. The machinery removal operation had been led by operations manager Robert Hammond and involved the dismantling of a corrugated steel tower structure attached to the facility’s main production building.

According to the HSE, there was a complete lack of a suitable and sufficient risk assessment regarding the work being done at height. Moreover, the task had not been properly planned or supervised, and no formal safety measures or working methods had been put in place to prevent such an accident. Notably, neither Mr Rozanski nor his colleague had received adequate training for working at height, nor were they provided with suitable access equipment or fall prevention systems.

These oversights were deemed particularly shocking given the known risks associated with working on fragile roofs—risks that have long been acknowledged in the construction and industrial sectors. The HSE’s investigation concluded that the accident was entirely avoidable and resulted from a systemic failure to put proper safety precautions in place.

At a hearing held at Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court on March 21, 2025, Surface Technik (Old Hill) Limited was found guilty of breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. This section of the legislation requires employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of their employees while at work. Although the company is currently in liquidation, the court ruled that this did not absolve it of responsibility for the events that led to Mr Rozanski’s death. The court imposed a fine of £90,000 and ordered the company to pay £28,956 in prosecution costs.

In addition to the corporate conviction, Robert Hammond was held personally accountable for his role in the safety failings. Mr Hammond had previously pleaded guilty to breaching Section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which places a duty on individual employees to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others who may be affected by their actions or omissions at work. His claim that he was not directly responsible for health and safety at the site was dismissed by the court. Mr Hammond was fined £8,500 and ordered to pay an equal amount in legal costs.

Commenting on the case, HSE Inspector Sarah Smewin stated, "Working from height remains one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities and serious injuries in the UK. This case tragically illustrates the consequences of failing to identify and mitigate the risks associated with fragile roofs. Thorough risk assessments, competent planning, effective supervision, and proper training are all essential components of a safe working environment. The use of appropriate access equipment and fall prevention systems must be standard practice in any task involving work at height."

She further added that this case serves as an important reminder to employers and managers that liquidation does not shield them from accountability for health and safety breaches. The prosecution of both the company and its operations manager reinforces the message that such responsibilities must be taken seriously, regardless of the company’s financial status.

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