Oxfordshire Construction Firm Fined £120,000 After Worker Dies in Fall From Height
An Oxfordshire construction firm was fined £120,000 after a worker fell through an unsafe first floor during refurbishment work in Gloucestershire.
The following is an abridgement of an article originally published by HSE Press Office.
Incident Summary
An Oxfordshire-based construction company was fined £120,000 after 59-year-old carpenter Richard “Felix” Roper died following a fall through an unsafe first floor on 30 August 2022.
The incident occurred during refurbishment work at a residential property in Nether Westcote, Gloucestershire, where workers were replacing rotten floor joists and floorboards. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Roper fell to the concrete ground floor below after sections of flooring were removed, leaving unsecured joists and open gaps. He sustained severe head injuries and died in hospital the following day.
Investigation Findings
A joint investigation by the HSE and Gloucestershire Police found that the work at height had not been properly planned, appropriately supervised, or carried out safely. Regulators reported that workers were permitted to access areas where flooring and structural supports had been removed without adequate fall prevention measures, while ongoing removal of floorboards further heightened the risk.
The HSE issued a Prohibition Notice following the incident to halt work at height until safety measures were introduced. The company subsequently revised its work method to install joists from below using height-access equipment while restricting access to the first floor.
Legal Outcome
At Bristol Magistrates’ Court on 24 September 2026, the construction company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The court imposed a fine of £120,000 and ordered the payment of £5,247 in costs.
Inspector’s Comment
HSE Principal Inspector James Lucas stated:
“Due to the failings of this company, a man lost his life. Every year, workers are killed or suffer life-changing injuries because work at height has not been properly planned or suitable safeguards have not been put in place. Had appropriate controls been in place, Felix’s death could have been prevented.”
