A self-employed builder has been handed a suspended prison sentence following the death of an asylum seeker who fell from scaffolding at a domestic property in Bradford.

Sarabjit Singh, 44, was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.

Mr Eraj Rahanpour, a 29-year-old originally from Iran, died after falling from height during rendering works on 25 August 2021. Mr Rahanpour had been collected by Sarabjit Singh that morning from a road in Bradford popular with people looking for casual, cash-in-hand work.

Mr Singh dropped Mr Rahanpour off at the site where he was to be paid £50 for six hours of labour, mixing products applied to the wall by two other workers.

During the afternoon, Mr Rahanpour fell from the top level of a scaffold onto the driveway below, suffering serious injuries. He was taken to Leeds General Infirmary where he was placed into a medically induced coma. A decision was later made to remove life support, and Mr Rahanpour died on 8 September 2021.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found Mr Singh had provided domestic-type ladders for the works that were not secured sufficiently and did not provide safe access to the scaffold platform. The ladders had numerous defects, while safety gates provided with the scaffold had been tied back, creating an opening through which persons could fall.

Mr Singh had also failed to undertake a suitable and sufficient risk assessment or produce a method statement for the work. He could not demonstrate effective supervision or evidence of formal training for any of the workers involved in the project.

HSE guidance states employers and those in control of any work at height activity must make sure work is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people. This includes using the right type of equipment for working at height.

Mr Sarabjit Singh, of Glenlee Road, Bradford, was found guilty of breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on 5 March 2025. The judge ordered no costs.

Paul Thompson, a Principal Inspector at HSE said: “This is an extremely tragic case where a vulnerable person seeking an opportunity to work sadly didn’t make it home that evening.

Mr Rahanpour’s nearest family member resides in Canada, making this case all the more unfortunate.

“We are able to provide a voice for Mr Rahanpour to ensure failures by Mr Singh have been held to account.

“Those putting people to work need to fully assess and control the risks from working at height, and ensure suitable training, guidance and supervision. Equipment used for work should be suitable for the purpose intended and in an efficient state of repair.”

Orignal Article: https://press.hse.gov.uk/2025/03/05/bradford-builder-sentenced-after-fatal-fall-of-asylum-seeker/