- Company failed to identify fragile sections on roofs
- No safety measures were put in place to prevent a fall
- Worker fell through fragile roof and died as a result of injuries
A construction company that specialises in utility and infrastructure services has been fined £183,000 after one of its employees died after fall through a fragile roof.
Ross Hanratty, 28, was working to clear roof gutters on two blocks of warehouses for IPSUM Drainage (Scotland) Limited, at Seafield Industrial Estate in October 2022 when he fell 24 feet.
The health and safety investigation was led by the City of Edinburgh Council in conjunction with Police Scotland.
On Thursday 19 February 2026, IPSUM Drainage (Scotland) Limited (part of the IPSUM Group), of Hillington Park, Glasgow, pled guilty on Indictment to an offence under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The offence covering the failure to –
- Make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk to the health and safety of employees to which they were exposed while working at height in order to clean gutters on roofs, in particular the hazards presented by fragile roofs.
- Provide a Safe System of Work for the cleaning of roof gutters, ensuring proper precautions were taken to prevent a fall from height.
- Provide such information and instruction as was necessary to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, the health safety and welfare of their employees, in particular sufficient information to Ross Hanratty, their employee about what areas on the roof of Unit 2 did not require to be cleaned.
- As a result of this, Ross Hanratty who was not connected to any individual or collective fall prevention measures, fell through the fragile roof a distance of 24 feet and died as a result of his injuries.
Cllr Neil Ross, Convener of the Regulatory Committee, said:
This sentence should send a clear message to employers that the Council and the courts take a failure to comply with health and safety legislation extremely seriously.
We extend our sincere condolences to Mr Hanratty’s family and loved ones at this very difficult time.
This is a tragic accident that could have been prevented. Mr Hanratty was new to his job and had no previous experience working at heights, he was not provided with the necessary safety information, instruction, and equipment to keep him safe whilst working at height.
Falls from height are the most common cause of death and serious injury to people at work. Falls through fragile roofing materials account for many of these deaths. These incidents can be prevented if reasonably practicable measures are put in place to protect workers.