Apr 19 2007
Fines of £68,000 imposed after workman dies in fall
"Everybody involved in planning and carrying out construction work has some responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of the workers. This case brings home the possible tragic consequences if they fail to do carry out their duties." HSE Deputy Chief Executive Justin McCracken said after the court imposed fines totaling £68,000.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has today warned companies of the need to make and implement proper risk assessments when working with fragile roofs. The warning follows the death of 28 year old Darren Brownbill.
Darren a scaffolder from Warrington died after falling through a fragile roof light while working on an extension to the warehouse operated by Unichem PLC on Walton Summit, Preston on 9 June 2003.
Three companies and two individuals have been fined a total of £68,000 and ordered to pay £40,407 costs at Preston Crown Court after being prosecuted by HSE.
Ian Connor, Acting Principal Inspector for the HSE, said:
"This was a tragic incident in which a man lost his life in circumstances that could so easily have been prevented. The dangers presented by fragile roof materials have been well known for many years, yet were not taken into consideration in this case.
"Considerable time had been spent planning the job and any one of those involved had the opportunity to realise that somebody could fall through the warehouse roof. Simple steps could then have been taken to prevent this death. If this had been done, Darren would still be alive today."
The following were charged:
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Darren’s employer Telford Tower & Scaffolding Ltd of Castle Trading Estate, Priorslee, Telford, Shropshire pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSW Act). The company was fined £35,000 and ordered to pay £20,000 costs
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Pochin (Contractors) Ltd of Brooks Lane, Middlewich, Cheshire the main contractors for the work, pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 3(1) of the HSW Act. The company was fined £25,000 and ordered to pay £15,000 costs
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Unichem plc of Unichem House, Cox Lane, Chessington, Surrey, the clients for the work, pleaded guilty of a charge under the Regulation 11 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 (CDM Regulations). The company was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £2.407 costs
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David Isherwood, a partner in the firm of Isherwood McCann of Rose Park, Lutterworth Road, Blaby, Leicester , the project designer, pleaded guilty to a charge under Regulation 13 (2) (a) (i) of the CDM Regulations. H e was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £1,500 costs
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Ian McCann, a partner in the firm of Isherwood McCann of Rose Park, Lutterworth Road, Blaby, Leicester, the planning supervisor for the project, pleaded guilty to a charge under Regulation 15 (1) of the CDM Regulations. H e was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £1,500 costs.