A tragic accident claimed the life of 19-year-old Renols Lleshi, who fell six floors down a ventilation shaft at a building site in London. On July 5, 2023, Renols was dismantling scaffolding on the twelfth floor roof garden of a new block of flats at the Ark Soane Academy site on Mill Hill Road when the fatal fall occurred.
Investigations by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that the ventilation shaft Renols stepped onto was inadequately covered with just a sheet of plasterboard and roofing foam, which gave way beneath him. Routine site inspections failed to include the roof garden area, and the scaffolding team had received no warnings about the hazard.
Jerram Falkus Construction Limited admitted breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. As a result, the company was fined £42,200, with an additional £2,000 surcharge and £5,000 in costs, following a hearing at City of London Magistrates’ Court on March 18.
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HSE Inspector Natalie Prince emphasized the dangers of working at height, stating, “Falls from height are one of the biggest causes of workplace fatalities and major injuries. This was a wholly avoidable incident that led to the death of a young man. My thoughts are with Renols’ family and friends.”
Renols’ father expressed profound grief over his son’s death, highlighting that the accident could have been prevented. “My family and I are devastated by the loss of Renols. To know that his death was caused by an accident which was entirely avoidable only makes our loss even harder to cope with,” he said. “We are grateful to the Health & Safety Executive for investigating the accident and prosecuting those responsible. However, nothing can bring Renols back or ease our pain.”