Boss jailed after worker fell from roof

A BUSINESSMAN has been jailed and his family firm fined almost £150,000 after a worker fell to his death from an unsafe roof.

Mafizur Rahman had previously admitted the manslaughter of Tomasz Galwaz, 29.

John Harrison, QC, prosecuting, said Rahman and the firm, Aston-based Al Amin Wholesale Ltd, failed to warn the victim that the roof he was working on was fragile.

Mr Galwaz was a labourer and should not have been considered a “competent roofer”, Mr Harrison told Birmingham Crown Court.

The Polish-born worker fell to his death as he worked on a unit at Al Amin’s Grosvenor Road base on January 5, 2015.

A second man, his fellow Pole Andrzej Kilimnik, also fell but survived, though he suffered multiple fractures.

Rahman, 32, of Trinity Road, Aston, was jailed for two-and-ahalf years and the company fined £144,000.

Mr Harrison said the roof was fragile and there was a warning sign on the side of the office building. He said: “Al Amin and Mr Rahman should have warned the workers that the roof was fragile. Neither did so.

“There was no protection to stop a person falling off or through the roof.”

Rashad Mohammed, defending Rahman, said he was a man of good character with no previous convictions.

He said: “He is extremely sorry for his actions and wants to apologise to the wife of the deceased.”

Sham Uddin, representing Al Amin Wholesale, also apologised to Mr Galwaz’s family.

But Judge Philip Parker said: “The actions of Mr Rahman and the company were foolhardy and without care.”

Al Amin Wholesale was also ordered to pay £44,000 in costs.