Worker's roof fall death 'wholly avoidable' – judge

A MAN died after falling through a building's fragile roof in a "wholly avoidable" tragedy, a court has heard.

- DAVID POWELL

Leslie Bennion, 61, died after falling through a roof at the former Welsh Country Foods site in Gaerwen in 2018.

Mold Crown Court was told that the company boss responsible for the work had shown "remarkable" health and safety failings in the lead-up to the tragedy.

Dominic Lakeman-Pettit, 34, had chosen a 45ft cherry-picker for Mr Bennion and another worker to use to replace panels on the roof and walls of the building and annexe, rather than wait for a 60ft cherry picker which hadn't been available until later that week.

But the court heard the 45ft cherry-pickeror Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) - was not long enough.

Mr Bennion and his colleague completed some work but when they reached one area, Mr Bennion and his colleague climbed out of the "safe confines" of its basket on to the roof to finish the job. Mr Bennion fell 20ft to his death.

Both the company Camclad Contractors Ltd and director Lakeman-Pettit admitted breaching a health and safety regulation.

This week, judge His Honour Timothy Petts said the tragedy had been "wholly avoidable".