A 59-year-old father of two died after falling through an unsafe first-floor structure while working on a building renovation. Richard “Felix” Roper, a skilled carpenter, fell at Manor Barn House in Nether Westcote on August 30, 2022, and died the following day in hospital.
The construction company W G Carter Limited, based in Appleton, was fined £120,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The company was also ordered to pay £5,247 in costs following the hearing at Bristol Magistrates' Court on September 24.
Mr Roper had been replacing damaged floor joists on the first floor while other workers removed sections of flooring in the same area. Large gaps had been left between joists, with some missing entirely or unsecured, creating hazardous working conditions. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the work was not properly planned, supervised, or safely executed.
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Workers could access unstable areas despite the lack of flooring and structural supports, exposing them to significant fall risks. After the incident, HSE issued a Prohibition Notice stopping work at height until adequate safety measures were introduced.
An HSE spokesperson highlighted that falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace deaths and injuries, accounting for over a quarter of work-related deaths in 2025/26. Employers are required to plan and supervise such work properly and ensure it is carried out by competent personnel.
The investigation concluded that W G Carter Limited failed to implement suitable safeguards to prevent falls. Following the tragedy, the company adopted safer methods, including installing floor joists from below with appropriate equipment and restricting access to the first floor during work.
HSE principal inspector James Lucas said: “Due to the failings of this company, a man lost his life. Every year, workers suffer fatal or life-changing injuries because work at height is not properly planned or adequately protected. Felix’s death could have been prevented. Our thoughts are with his family. He was a valued colleague and a much-loved father of two who died in circumstances that should never have arisen.”