Builder receives suspended sentence after worker’s fatal fall

Story Highlight

– Builder received suspended sentence after worker’s fatal fall.
– No fall protection measures were implemented during work.
– Victim sustained critical injuries and died weeks later.
– HSE found violations of safety regulations by the builder.
– Family devastated by loss, highlighting impact of incident.

Full Story

A builder based in Reading has received a suspended prison sentence following the tragic death of a colleague who fell while assisting with roof work on a residential extension. Raffaele Vigliotti, aged 68 and operating under the name Absolute Building Solutions, was sanctioned by Reading Crown Court after it was established that he had failed to implement necessary safety measures for those working at height, contributing to the fatal incident involving Andrew Layley.

Mr Layley, who was 69 years old and had a close association with Vigliotti, sustained serious head injuries on 8 April 2023, which ultimately led to his death several weeks later. The victim was a family man, married for nearly four decades, and father to three adult children. His family described him as a “caring” individual whose absence has created a significant void in their lives, highlighting how deeply he will be missed.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) undertook an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. Their findings revealed that Mr Vigliotti had not put in place adequate measures to protect Mr Layley or another worker who was also exposed to risks while performing tasks on the roof. The safety practices in place at the time were deemed insufficient to either prevent a fall or lessen its consequences should one occur.

As part of their guidelines, the HSE specifies the importance of controlling hazards associated with working at heights, which includes taking necessary action to reduce both the risk of falling and the effects of a potential fall. Such safety measures include installing systems to minimize fall distance or providing soft landing options to mitigate injury risks.

During the court proceedings, Mr Vigliotti, who resides in The Hedges on Bath Road in Padworth, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The court imposed an eight-month imprisonment sentence, suspended for 18 months, alongside a requirement to complete 200 hours of community service within the subsequent year and a half. Additionally, Mr Vigliotti was mandated to pay a victim surcharge as part of the penalty.

HSE inspector Nicola Pinckney expressed concern over the frequency of incidents stemming from inadequate precautions when working at height. “Every year, a significant proportion of incidents, many of them serious and sometimes fatal, occur due to unsuitable or absent measures to protect workers from falls from height,” she stated. She emphasized that this particular tragedy was entirely preventable and condemned the negligence that led to the death of Mr Layley, noting that with appropriate safety considerations and readily available controls, the unfortunate event could have easily been averted.

Inspector Pinckney advocated for this case to serve as a cautionary tale to others within the construction industry, underscoring the crucial need for prioritising the safety of workers and taking all necessary precautions when working in such perilous conditions.

The prosecution was led by HSE enforcement lawyer Rebecca Schwartz, with support from paralegal Officer Helen Hugo. The HSE retains a key role as the national regulator responsible for workplace health and safety in Britain, focused on ensuring safer environments for all workers across various sectors.

For further information on health and safety legislation, the HSE provides comprehensive resources and updates, available through their official communication channels. As a regulatory body, the HSE emphasizes the importance of adhering to established sentencing guidelines, which must be observed unless deemed contrary to the interests of justice.