No job is worth your life

From the age of 18, I served as a firefighter – a role where safety was second nature. Working at height was part of the job, but it was always done with strict protocols, teamwork, and respect for the risks involved. After leaving the fire service at 24, I continued in physically demanding roles, eventually becoming a solid fuel heating engineer in 2009. The job involved daily work on rooftops – lining chimneys, fitting stoves and rebuilding fireplaces. 

The warning signs 

On my very first day with a new company, I was told not to expect anyone to “foot” my ladder. I was stunned. In the fire brigade, that would’ve been a sackable offence. But I needed the job. Bills don’t pay themselves. I had a gut feeling – something wasn’t right – but I stayed. I even asked for a safety harness and was told the company had a “special dispensation” from the Health and Safety Executive. I never saw it. I was told: “If you don’t like it, there’s the door.”

I should have walked away. But hindsight is a powerful thing. 

The day everything changed

On 20 June 2011, I was asked to cover for a colleague who had called in sick. It was a chimney sweep job – something that could have been done safely from inside the house. But the company insisted it be done from the roof, without a harness. 

I climbed up, stood on the chimney stack and finished the sweep. Then, in a split second, my left foot slipped. The concrete cope stone beneath me gave way. It looked fine from the outside, but the internal rebar was rotten. I fell headfirst, sliding down the pitched roof. I tried to grab the roof ladder, but I was moving too fast. I hit the unsecured extension ladder, which toppled, and I fell 33 feet, landing on a garden wall. 

The aftermath 

The fall shattered my life. I broke two ribs, punctured a lung and snapped my pelvis on both sides. I was lucky to survive. My arm, draped over the wall, saved my head from impact. I lived – but not without consequences. 

I spent years on crutches. I live with chronic pain and take daily medication. I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). My relationship ended. My dreams of marriage and children vanished. Even my colleagues lost their jobs when the company folded after the accident. The ripple effect was devastating. 

What I’ve learned 

• Trust your instincts. If something feels unsafe, it probably is. 
• Speak up – and walk away if you must. No job is worth your life. 
• Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) saves lives. A harness and helmet would have meant a few bruises, not lifelong disability. 
• Complacency kills. Even experienced workers can fall victim when routines change or corners are cut. 

Moving forward 

I’ve since dedicated myself to improving ladder safety. I even began developing a product to stabilise ladders for lone workers – because no one should have to choose between safety and a pay check. 

And I am a motivational speaker and have done so for 11 years. I’m hoping to change ways of thinking through the power of my story. To top it off, in 2023 I was an IOSH Champion.