The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) received a concern after workers were observed carrying out roof replacement work without any scaffolding in place.
The regulator identified unsafe work on a domestic roof being carried out by Steven Hendry, 40, from Liskeard, trading as Apex Roofing & Property Services. This led HSE inspector Hatti Shipp to serve a Prohibition Notice against him, legally stopping the dangerous work.
Following the notice, more information was requested from Hendry under Section 20 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. HSE guidance explicitly states that individuals and companies must co-operate with inspections and investigations.
However, Hendry failed to comply with the request for information, was said to be verbally abusive towards the inspector and went on to do further work without scaffolding.
The HSE defines work-related violence as “any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work.”
Hendry subsequently chose not to attend court, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He later pleaded guilty to breaching Section 20(2) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
He was fined £400 and ordered to pay costs of £3,852 at Plymouth Magistrates Court on November 25, 2025, bringing his total payable amount to £4,252.
Additionally, the court approved an application made by HSE under s.42 of the HSWA for Hendry to provide the previously requested information under section 20. He has until March 1, 2026, to comply.
HSE Inspector Hatti Shipp commented: “Part of our role to prevent further risk of injury is to follow up with companies or individuals who work unsafely, ensuring they are held accountable for improving conditions for workers and demonstrating to the HSE that they have done so.
“In this case, the defendant made it impossible for us to conduct this work and confirm the safety of those he was paying to undertake roof work.
“Not only did Hendry demonstrate a flagrant disregard for HSE and its powers, but he was also verbally abusive to me in the process.”
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