Jerram Falkus Construction Limited has been fined £42,200 following the tragic death of 19-year-old labourer Renols Lleshi. Mr Lleshi fell six floors from a ventilation shaft on a London building site in July 2023, an incident deemed entirely avoidable by investigators. The company was sentenced at City of London Magistrates Court on 18 March 2026, also incurring a £2,000 victim surcharge and £5,000 in costs.
Inadequate Shaft Covering Led to Workplace Fatality
The fatal incident occurred on 5 July 2023, while Renols Lleshi was engaged in dismantling scaffolding on the 12th-floor roof garden of a block of flats under construction. The site, located at the Ark Soane Academy, Mill Hill Road, London W3, became the scene of the tragedy when Mr Lleshi stepped onto what appeared to be a solid surface. However, the covering of a ventilation shaft gave way beneath him, leading to his catastrophic fall of six floors.
An investigation conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed critical failings in safety provisions. It was discovered that the ventilation shaft had been inadequately covered by only a sheet of plasterboard and roofing foam, offering no structural integrity or protection against a fall. Furthermore, routine inspections of the building site had inexplicably failed to include the roof garden area. This oversight meant that the dangerously insufficient covering remained undetected, and no warnings were issued to the scaffolding team working in the vicinity.
The family of Renols Lleshi expressed their devastation at his loss, highlighting that the knowledge of his death being caused by an entirely preventable accident only intensified their grief. They acknowledged the efforts of the Health & Safety Executive in investigating the accident and prosecuting those responsible, yet underscored that nothing could truly alleviate their sorrow or bring Renols back. The family’s statement serves as a stark reminder of the human cost when workplace safety standards are compromised.
HSE guidance on working at height unequivocally states that employers bear the responsibility for ensuring the safety of their workforce. This includes carrying out as much work as possible from ground level and guaranteeing that workers can safely access and leave areas where work at height is necessary. Crucially, any equipment utilised for working at height must be suitable, stable, and robust enough for the task at hand, alongside being properly maintained. Employers and those with control over work at height activities are mandated to ensure that all operations are meticulously planned, adequately supervised, and executed by competent individuals, utilising appropriate equipment. These guidelines are in place to prevent precisely the kind of tragedy that befell Mr Lleshi.
Jerram Falkus Construction Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. This regulation places a duty on employers to ensure that work at height is properly planned, appropriately supervised, and carried out in a manner that is safe and without risks to health. The company’s failure to adhere to these fundamental safety principles directly contributed to the tragic outcome, demonstrating a clear lapse in their duty of care towards their employees.
HSE Inspector Natalie Prince commented on the case, emphasising the severe risks associated with working at height. She stated that falls from height remain one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities and major injuries across the country. Inspector Prince described the incident as wholly avoidable, leading to the untimely death of a young man, and extended her thoughts to Renols’ family and friends. This prosecution underscores the critical importance of robust safety measures and diligent oversight, particularly in high-risk construction environments where falls from height pose a constant and serious threat. The regulatory body continues to advocate for stringent adherence to safety protocols to prevent such incidents from recurring.
This story was originally published by the Health and Safety Executive.
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