North Tyneside Council is reminding businesses and organisations of the importance of properly planning and managing work at height activities following a successful prosecution.
Wallsend Memorial Hall & People's Centre has been sentenced after a member of staff from a neighbouring business was injured when a wooden pallet fell from a roof
North Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard how, on 29 September 2025, a worker in a shared rear yard was struck on the head by a wooden pallet that fell from the flat roof of the hall during work being carried out at height.
The victim sustained serious head and spinal injuries as a result of the incident.
An investigation by North Tyneside Council found that pallets were being removed from the roof without suitable planning or safety measures in place. There was no adequate risk assessment, safe system of work, exclusion zone, barriers or warning signage. The shared yard remained accessible throughout the work and neighbouring businesses had not been informed that activities were taking place overhead.
Following legal proceedings brought by the Council, Wallsend Memorial Hall & People's Centre pleaded guilty to offences under health and safety legislation, including breaches of Sections 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
The organisation was sentenced at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court on 16 October. It was fined £54,000 and ordered to pay £2,500 in prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £2,000. The court also made a compensation order of £10,000, payable to the injured party within 12 months.
The total financial penalty imposed by the court was £68,500.
The Council expects all businesses carrying out work at height to properly assess the risks and put effective control measures in place before work begins. Areas below work activities must be securely restricted where there is a risk of falling objects. Failure to meet these duties can have serious consequences for workers, neighbouring businesses and members of the public. Where serious health and safety failings are identified, the Council will not hesitate to take robust enforcement action.