Roofing boss jailed for 10 months

The owner of a South Wales roofing firm has been jailed for 10 months and ordered to pay £18,000 costs after admitting manslaughter following the death of one of his employees.

Roy Clark, from Cefn Cribbwr, Bridgend, was sentenced yesterday in relation to the death of 17-year-old Daniel Dennis, from Pyle, Bridgend.

Dennis was working at a Matalan store for Clark's firm North Eastern Roofing when he fell nearly 10m through a skylight in 2003.

HSE Inspector Dean Baker, said: "This tragic case demonstrates the need for employers to take serious steps to ensure anyone working at height is properly trained, and given appropriate equipment to do their job safely.
 
"These measures had not been taken in this case, and Daniel Dennis was never given any training or induction for working at height.

Meanwhile Mick Antoniw, solicitor for the Dennis family, said: "This sentence should be a warning to all employers that they will not be allowed to get away with killing workers through their negligence."