HEALTH and safety investigators say a Christchurch roofer ‘unnecessarily lost his life’ when he suffered fatal head injuries from a fall through a rooflight.

Two firms were fined and a company director was given a conditional discharge at Southampton Crown Court yesterday for their role in the tragic accident that took place in December 2007.

Popular father-of-two Carl Pearson, 42, fell approximately six metres while working on a building in Wharfdale Road in Bournemouth.

But an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that while a risk assessment and method statement were produced they were inadequate. As a result Mr Pearson carried out work on a fragile roof with no means of fall prevention in place.

After the hearing HSE Inspector Frank Flannery, said: “This was a wholly preventable incident in which a man in his prime and a father-of-two lost his life.

“This incident was not the result of the actions of an individual, rather a result of collective failures. Had a suitable risk assessment been undertaken, for risks that were known to all parties, and a safe system of work established, this tragic incident would not have happened.

“Whilst I welcome today’s outcome, the fact remains that a man unnecessarily lost his life.”

Mr Pearson was contracted by Bournemouth-based cladding refurbishment company Cladcoat UK Ltd to replace damaged rooflights as part of remedial work on the building.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Cladcoat, which was sub-contracted by Bridport company TRN Electrical Ltd, brought in Mr Pearson to carry out this part of the work, as it did not have the necessary expertise.

TRN Electrical Ltd was fined £30,000 for breaching health and safety laws, plus legal costs of £14,850. Cladcoat UK Ltd, based in Longham Business Centre, Ringwood Road, Longham, was also fined £10,000 for breaches of the same laws while director Jeremy Walton was given a conditional discharge.

At the inquest into Mr Pearson’s death in 2008, his mum Patricia Morgan, said: “He will be sadly missed by his two children, Luke, 14, and nine-year-old Abbie and by his mother, father, brothers, aunt, uncle and brother-in-law whom he was very close to. Carl was a local man and well respected by his many friends and work colleagues.”

She said her son moved to Bournemouth when he was 18 after falling in love with the town during a holiday.

He was married for 14 years but was separated from his wife and living with his aunt and uncle, Shirley and Dave, in Hurn, at the time of his death.

His organs were donated and the inquest was told how they had transformed the lives of three people, including a 12-year-old girl who received his liver.