Last reviewed: 18 July 2026. Figures and rules can change – always confirm on the official links.

Falls from height fines including six-figure penalties continue to target employers, with prosecutions resulting in a £250,000 fine for Ward Bros (Malton) Ltd and £133,000 for Knowles Logistics Limited in 2025/26, while falls from height remain the most common cause of workplace fatalities, accounting for over a quarter of all work-related deaths.

Falls from Height Fines: The Financial and Personal Consequences

Between July 2025 and July 2026, HSE prosecutions for falls from height resulted in fines ranging from £32,000 to £250,000. The two six-figure penalties demonstrate that courts are applying the definitive sentencing guidelines introduced on 1 February 2016 with full force.

Beyond corporate fines, directors faced personal consequences:

• Company director Mr Joseph Smith received a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to pay costs of £2,630 in December 2025
• Director Mr Waqas Hanif was given a 26-week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay costs of £4,846 in September 2025
• Gary Saville received a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and was told to complete 260 hours of unpaid work at Warrington Magistrates Court on 16 June 2026

These suspended sentences serve as a clear warning: directors and site supervisors can face personal criminal liability, not just corporate penalties.

Recent Prosecutions Across the UK

The pattern of enforcement shows falls from height prosecutions span multiple industries and circumstances:

• J Smith Construction Services Limited was fined £80,000 at Southampton Magistrates Court on 4 December 2025 after a worker fell 15 feet through a fragile skylight
• Penn Elcom Limited received an £80,000 fine at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on 18 November 2025 when a driver fell from an HGV trailer
• Lima Construction Limited was fined £50,000 at Westminster Magistrates Court on 18 June 2026 after a worker fell to death through a window opening
• WH Metals Limited faced a £45,000 penalty at Bolton Magistrates Court on 23 September 2025 following a fatal fall from scaffolding – the fall was only 6 feet but proved fatal
• Atrium Conservatories Limited was fined £40,000 at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court on 26 June 2025
• Skyladder Construction Limited received a £33,500 fine at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on 31 October 2025 after a fatal fall through a skylight
• Romero Catholic Academy Trust was fined £32,000 at Warrington Magistrates Court on 14 July 2026 when a site supervisor fell from a school roof

The fatal fall from just 6 feet in the WH Metals case proves a critical point: work at height means any place where, if there were no precautions in place, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. Height is relative to risk, not an arbitrary measurement.

What the Work at Height Regulations 2005 Require

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply to employers and those who control work at height, including facilities managers or building owners who contract others to work at height. The regulations are explicit about duties:

• Work must be properly planned
• Work must be appropriately supervised
• Work must be carried out by competent people
• The right type of equipment must be used for working at height

Would your current arrangements survive an HSE inspection? The prosecutions above show that after an incident, inspectors examine planning documentation, risk assessments, supervision records and evidence of competence. Gaps in any of these areas lead directly to prosecution.

The Sentencing Framework

The definitive guidelines for sentencing health and safety offences came into force on 1 February 2016. The framework is clear: the fine should meet objectives of punishment, deterrence and removal of gain. It should not be cheaper to offend than to take appropriate precautions, and must be sufficiently substantial to have a real economic impact.

Penalties include:

• Unlimited fines
• Remedial orders
• Publicity orders
• Custodial sentences for individuals

Compare a £250,000 fine, legal costs, productivity loss and reputational damage against the cost of proper working at height training, suitable equipment and documented risk assessments. The financial case for compliance is overwhelming.

What Norfolk Businesses Must Do Now

If your business in Wymondham, Norwich, Attleborough, Thetford or Dereham involves any work at height – loading vehicles, accessing roofs, using ladders, working on scaffolding, maintenance on elevated platforms – you have specific legal duties.

Immediate actions:

• Review all work at height activities and ensure each has a current, specific risk assessment
• Verify that everyone working at height has received documented, competent training
• Check that supervision arrangements are documented and effective
• Audit equipment: is it the right type for the task, properly maintained and inspected?
• Ensure planning documents exist for non-routine work at height

Our consultancy team conducts working at height risk assessments across Norfolk, identifying gaps before the HSE does. We deliver accredited training at our Wymondham centre and on-site at your premises, ensuring your workforce is competent and you can evidence compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What height is covered by the Work at Height Regulations 2005?

Any place where, if there were no precautions in place, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. As the fatal fall from 6 feet in the WH Metals prosecution demonstrates, even low-level work is covered if there is injury risk.

Who is responsible under the Work at Height Regulations?

Employers and those who control work at height, including facilities managers or building owners who contract others to work at height. Directors can face personal prosecution and custodial sentences.

What do ‘competent people’ mean in the regulations?

Workers must have sufficient training, experience and knowledge to carry out the task safely. You must be able to evidence this competence through training records, assessments and supervision arrangements.

How much can my business be fined for a fall from height breach?

Fines are unlimited. Recent prosecutions in 2025/26 ranged from £32,000 to £250,000, plus costs. The fine must be sufficiently substantial to have a real economic impact and must not be cheaper than taking appropriate precautions.

Get Compliant Before the HSE Calls

We have supported Norfolk businesses with health and safety compliance since 1978. Our working at height training is delivered by experienced instructors at our Wymondham training centre or at your site across Norwich, Attleborough, Thetford and Dereham.

Our consultancy team conducts thorough risk assessments, reviews your planning and supervision arrangements, and provides the documented evidence you need to demonstrate compliance with the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

The prosecutions above show that HSE enforcement is active and courts are applying the sentencing guidelines with full force. The question is not whether you can afford to get compliant – it is whether you can afford not to.

Contact our Wymondham team today on 01953 603279 for a working at height compliance review, or visit our contact page to arrange accredited training for your workforce.