Contractor fined after fatal fall through warehouse roof

Ross Hanratty, 28, was working to clear roof gutters on two warehouses for Ipsum Drainage (Scotland) Limited at Edinburgh’s Seafield Industrial Estate in October 2022 when he fell 24 feet.

The health & safety investigation was led by the City of Edinburgh Council in conjunction with Police Scotland.

The investigation found that Ipsum Drainage had sent Hanratty and another worker to clear roof gutters on two blocks of warehouses. It was a two-day job, one day for each block, On the second morning Hanratty was working alone on the roof of the second block. He was wearing a harness but there was nothing to connect it to. He fell through a section of fragile material into a unit occupied by Rembrand Timber. He died as a result of his injuries.

On Thursday 19^th February 2026, Ipsum Drainage (Scotland) Limited (part of the Ipsum Group), of Hillington Park, Glasgow, pleaded guilty on Indictment to an offence under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

The company was fined £183,000.

Ipsum had failed to make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment , failed to provide a safe system of work and failed to provide such information and instruction as was necessary to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, the health safety and welfare of employees.

Cllr Neil Ross, convener of Edinburgh City Council’s regulatory committee, said: “This sentence should send a clear message to employers that the council and the courts take a failure to comply with health and safety legislation extremely seriously.

“We extend our sincere condolences to Mr Hanratty’s family and loved ones at this very difficult time.  This is a tragic accident that could have been prevented. Mr Hanratty was new to his job and had no previous experience working at heights, he was not provided with the necessary safety information, instruction, and equipment to keep him safe whilst working at height.

“Falls from height are the most common cause of death and serious injury to people at work. Falls through fragile roofing materials account for many of these deaths. These incidents can be prevented if reasonably practicable measures are put in place to protect workers.”

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