The consequences of failing to co-operate with the HSE
CORNISH ROOFER HAS BEEN SENTENCED AFTER FAILING TO COMPLY WITH REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION FROM AN...
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CORNISH ROOFER HAS BEEN SENTENCED AFTER FAILING TO COMPLY WITH REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION FROM AN INSPECTOR FOR BRITAIN’S WORKPLACE REGULATOR
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) received a concern after workers had been observed carrying out roof replacement work without any scaffolding being in place. The regulator identified unsafe work on a domestic roof being worked on by Steven Hendry, 40, from Liskeard, leading HSE inspector, Hatti Shipp, to serve a prohibition notice against him.
As a result, further information was requested from Hendry, however, he failed to comply with the request, which was made under Section 20 of the Health and Safety at Work Act. HSE guidance states that individuals and companies must co-operate with inspections and investigations.
Hendry, trading as Apex Roofing & Property Services at the time, was verbally abusive towards the inspector. As well as ignoring the request for further information, he went on to do further work without scaffolding, completely ignoring the prohibition notice. He then chose not to attend court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
HSE defines work-related violence as ‘any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work’. This can include verbal abuse or threats, including face to face, online and via telephone and physical attacks. It can include violence from members of the public, customers, clients, patients, service users and students towards a person at work.
Steven Hendry, t/a Apex Roofing & Property Services of Marthus Court, Liskeard, pleaded guilty to section 20(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, Section 20(c). He was fined £400 and ordered to pay costs of £3,852 at Plymouth Magistrates Court on 25 November 2025. The court also approved an application made by HSE under s.42 of HSWA for Hendry to provide the information requested by them under section 20. He has until 1 March 2026 in which to do this.
HSE Inspector, Hatti Shipp, said: “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 to HSE and its powers, he was also verbally abusive to me in the process.”
Roofer sentenced for refusing to co-operate with HSE | Health & Safety Matters
JAMES BOND’ BUILDER WHO THREATENED HSE INSPECTORS FOUND GUILTY
A site manager who threatened HSE inspectors, and told them his name was James Bond, has been fined.
The inspectors were carrying out a routine inspection of an extensive cottage refurbishment when they saw 2 workers on site accessing a roof from the bucket of an excavator.
Clearly identifying the practice to be unsafe, the inspectors decided they had to stop and take action. The site manager then:
- refused to identify himself, except as James Bond
- rebuffed their attempts to inspect the site
- told the inspectors he was in fact the property owner and that they had no legal right to inspect.
- followed that up with threats of violence
He was fined £3,000, ordered to pay full costs of £6,450 and must pay a victim surcharge of £1,200.
Source: HSE 29th Jan 2026
In both of the above cases; failing to cooperate with an HSE inspector is never going to end well and abuse of any kind is unacceptable.
Having taken this approach, the result is a fine, costs, criminal record and a requirement to provide the information originally requested. If this is not produced there will likely be a further prosecution resulting in another fine and a fee for intervention cost on top.
Although these were both building/roofing contractors it should be a healthy reminder on how we need to work with any enforcement agency arriving at your premises and not against them to achieve the best outcome.