Comet fined over roofer's deathA judge has said the death of a roof worker at a Comet store in Wrexham was an "accident waiting to happen".
The electrical chain has been fined £75,000 and ordered to pay nearly £25,000 costs by Judge Rhys Rowlands at Mold Crown Court. The company admitted failing to ensure the safety of Paul Alker at a previous hearing after he fell through a skylight in 2007.
Mr Alker and his colleague, Aaron Pugh, had not been supplied with roofing harnesses, a previous hearing was told. Labourer Mr Alker was carrying out roofing work, but died several days after dropping 24ft through a fragile roof.
Although scaffolding was put up at the side of the door to give the men access to the top of the roof, they were not provided with harnesses. The men were employed by Steven Smith of Wrexham Roofing Services, who received a two-year jail term in 2007 for manslaughter by gross negligence.
The roofing company was effectively a "one-man band" and was not competent to carry out such a contract, a previous hearing was told. Comet had failed to control the company.
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