A 26‑year‑old scaffolder named James Cranswick fell twenty feet through an almost invisible skylight at a warehouse in Keighley, West Yorkshire, in January 2025.. the accident left him with a broken arm, fractured leg and head lacerations, and led to combined fines of more than £80,000 for two firms involved in the work.

Invisible skylight caused 20‑ft fall at Keighley warehouse

The roof of the distribution centre for alcoholic beverages and soft drinks featured a fragile corrugated panel that blended with surrounding cladding, offering no visual cue to workers. When Cranswick stepped onto the panel while carrying materials, it gave way and he plunged onto a concrete floor below, as captured by CCTV footage.

HSE fines total £80,300 for Clover Access and STM360

Leeds Magistrates Court heard the case on 4 June and imposed a combined fine of £80,300 on Clover Access Systems Limited (£26,000 plus £2,866 costs) and STM360 Limited (£53,300 plus £3,167 costs). according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), both companies failed to plan , manage and monitor the work, breaching statutory duties to protect employees from known roof‑work hazards.

Lack of risk assessment and guardrails breached statutory duties

Inspectors found that no risk assessments had been carried out for the presence of fragile roof elements, and no protective measures—such as guardrails, safety nets or clear signage—were in place. hSE Inspector Shauna Halstead emphasized that guidance exists to manage risks related to delicate surfaces and warned that the regulator will act decisively when employers allow unsafe conditions .

Clover Access Systems enters liquidation after penalty

Following the fine, Clover Access Systems Limited entered liquidation,signalling the severe financial impact of enforcement actions. The company’s collapse underscores how safety failures can quickly translate into existential threats for smaller contractors operating in the construction and maintenance sectors.

What remains unclear about subcontractor oversight?

The report does not detail how STM360 Limited was selected as the roof‑maintenance subcontractor, nor does it explain whether the priamry contractor performed any due‑diligence checks on its safety practices. As the HSE investigation focused on the two fined firms, the role of the warehouse owner and any broader supply‑chain responsibilities remain unverified.