A WORKER who fell 30ft through the roof of a York warehouse died accidentally, an inquest jury has decided.

Simon Pickering, aged 20, of Market Place, Malton, was working on the roof of the former B&Q store in Foss Islands Road when the tragedy happened.

York coroner Donald Coverdale said he had suffered a "devastating" head injury when he fell through a fragile roof light on to the concrete floor in May last year.

The roofer died six days later at Leeds General Infirmary.

The ten-strong jury heard that some concerns were raised over safety provisions at the site, which was being worked on by Totty Building Services Ltd and sub-contractors Yorkshire Sheeting and Insulation Services Ltd.

Michael Queally, a safety officer with Totty, had previously told the inquest that he had insisted a day before the accident that the building's brittle roof lights should be covered over while work on the roof was taking place.

He also recommended some form of scaffolding barrier to mark the roof sections not covered by safety netting.

Mr Pickering fell through a section of roof which was not supported by netting.

Only half the roof had been netted because vandals had broken into the site on a previous evening, and damaged the equipment which should have been used to complete the netting.

Stuart Ellis, the site supervisor for the day, had told the inquest that erecting a "permanent barrier" could take several days. Instead he opted for the "instant solution" of placing redundant sheets on the roof lights.

Robert Ibberson, an inspector with the Health and Safety Executive, told the jury that the accident could have been avoided if safety guidelines - the site "method statement" - had been revised.

He said: "Erecting a scaffolding barrier should have been taken into account and planned."

Mr Coverdale said: "I would like to express my condolences and sympathies to the family of Simon Pickering."

Mr Pickering's family were too distressed to comment.

Updated: 09:46 Friday, October 19, 2001