A self‑employed contractor has been jailed after a teenager fell to his death during demolition works on a property in Surrey.
Jason Hill, 59, hired Tom Neate, 19, to help demolish a garage at an address on Glebe Road in Staines-upon-Thames in preparation for an extension, according to a statement from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Neate was on the garage roof removing tiles when he fell through an opening on 16 August 2023 and suffered severe head injuries, the government agency said, adding that he was taken to hospital but died several weeks later on 23 September.
An HSE investigation found that Hill, of Ashford in Middlesex, failed to put measures in place to prevent a fall from height despite “the clear risk”.
The HSE added: “Work was being carried out directly from the roof with no scaffolding, decking, or other protective systems to prevent a person falling through or from the structure.
“Other concerns were identified, including unsafe mini-digger use and a failure to stop members of the public entering the site, indicating broader failings in Hill’s approach to managing health and safety.”
The investigation also found no assessment to determine whether asbestos was present, the HSE said.
“Corrugated concrete sheets being snapped and removed by hand were later found to be made from asbestos cement,” the HSE added.
“There were three other workers on site who were at risk of exposure to fibres as the sheets were handed down to them, as well as the family whose garage was being worked on.”
The HSE said Hill pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 at Staines Magistrates Court on 30 January 2026 and was jailed for 12 months.
In a statement provided to the HSE, Neate’s family said: “Tom was a kind hearted and hard working young man who was such a huge part of so many people’s lives.
“His loss has devastated us and knowing it could have been avoided makes that loss even harder to bear. His death should never have happened.
“We can only hope that this case serves as a warning to others that ignoring health and safety has irreversible consequences.”
HSE inspector Jennifer Lester said Hill’s prison sentence demonstrated the seriousness of the incident.
“Hill’s failure to put in place basic safety measures has cost a young man his life,” she said.
“Working at height remains one of the most well‑known and significant causes of death and injury in construction, and simple, recognised precautions would have protected Tom Neate from harm.
“Even small contractors and individuals working on domestic projects have a legal duty to ensure the safety of workers and members of the public.
“Failing to take these precautions can have devasting consequences, as this tragic incident starkly demonstrates. Our thoughts are with Tom’s family and friends as they mourn their loss.”
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Nicola Harley