What happened
On 24 February 2025, Josh Huddleston, aged 47, working for AJ Riley Landscapes and Building Limited, was replacing a damaged skylight on the roof of a barn in Lancashire. During this task, he fell approximately 10 metres through the fragile roof. He sustained fractures to his ribs, pelvis and vertebrae.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) followed the incident. The probe found failures in the company's approach to planning and managing the work. The investigation also identified a lack of appropriate control measures to prevent falls, as well as insufficient training for staff involved in the work.
The background
AJ Riley Landscapes and Building Limited is a construction and landscaping company based in Caton, Lancashire. The worker was engaged in maintenance work, specifically replacing a skylight on a barn roof. Barn roofs, particularly those containing rooflights or other fragile surfaces, are widely recognised to present a high risk of falls.
According to the HSE, work at height must always be properly planned, supervised and executed by competent workers. Regulations require suitable measures to prevent any person from falling from height where injury could occur.
In this case, the company had carried out a risk assessment, but had not ensured its control measures were both appropriate and understood by its staff. Workers had received insufficient training in the safe use of the identified precautions.
During the court proceedings, it was established that the firm had breached Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, relating to the safety of employees at work. This section requires employers to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their staff.
What people are saying
HSE Inspector Matthew Shepherd commented that falls from height remain a leading cause of workplace fatalities. He noted Mr Huddleston was fortunate to survive the fall, which caused serious injury.
The inspector stated that the risks linked to fragile roof surfaces are well known and suitable precautions are accessible. He said AJ Riley Landscapes and Building Limited had failed to take appropriate steps to prevent a worker falling through the roof, and added the incident was avoidable through better planning, risk assessment, and controls.
Matthew Shepherd said the prosecution should remind other employers and contractors working at height of their duty to protect workers, confirming that HSE will take enforcement action where legal duties are not met.
The HSE continues to provide guidance for work on roofs, urging employers and contractors to plan such jobs with care and ensure suitable precautions are in place before starting work. This includes the use of coverings, guard rails or safety nets, and ensuring all work at height is carried out by trained and competent workers.
What happens next
AJ Riley Landscapes and Building Limited pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety law at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on 3 November 2026. The court fined the company £20,000 and ordered payment of £4,955 in costs.
Following the verdict, the company is expected to review its arrangements for working at height and fragile surfaces. All contractors operating on similar sites are recommended to revisit their safety measures, training procedures and risk assessments for roof work.
The HSE's guidance on safe roof work remains available for employers, with emphasis placed on ensuring every stage of planning, supervision and execution of work at height reduces the chance of falls. There is an ongoing regulatory focus on investigations and enforcement regarding preventable falls in the construction and maintenance sectors.