Menu
06/01/2004
Staffordshire company fined over teen worker's death
A company in Staffordshire has been fined £100,000 today following the death of teenage worker three years ago.
Conder Structures Ltd was fined following the death of a 16-year-old ground worker in an incident in which two structural steel columns were blown down by the wind. This incident also resulted in another worker being struck a "glancing" blow.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution followed the accident, which occurred on 28 November 2000 during the erection of a steel-framed building designed by Conder Structures Ltd and erected by their subcontactors at the Project Arrow construction site, Magna Park, Lutterworth, Leicestershire.
Christopher Kesterton, who had left school only weeks before the accident, was employed by a firm of ground workers for two weeks and was killed after being struck by the falling 17-metre tall steel column, weighing almost two tonnes.
Lee William Neal, supervisor of the steel erection team, was supervising Christopher who was using a pneumatic breaker. Two columns were blown over in the wind after they had been bolted down at their bases but were otherwise freestanding. The two workers were near the columns and ran to escape following a shouted warning.
Whilst Lee Neal escaped without serious injury, Christopher was killed instantly.
The HSE said that the two steel columns fell principally because the steel erectors had been "unable to fit stabilising wedges between the columns' base plates and the concrete foundation, and the columns had been left free-standing".
Conder Structures Limited pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSW Act), for failing to ensure the safety of a person not in their employment, at Leicester Crown Court, on Friday 4 July 2003.
The company admitted that the activities of their subcontractors were not adequately and competently supervised so as to ensure the safe erection of steel columns.
The company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the design for the building included adequate health and safety information, contrary to Regulation 13 (2) (b) of the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 1994 at Northampton Crown Court, on Friday 3 October 2003.
Today Conder Structures Limited was fined a total of £100,000 and ordered to pay £59374.51 costs at Leicester Crown Court.
HSE Inspector Mark Hatfield said: ''All designers should remember the critical part they play in the safety of the construction process. They need to have robust systems to ensure that designs are carried out or are supervised by trained and competent persons; that quality review procedures cover the most dangerous conditions in the life-time of a structure; and, that safety critical information is passed on to those who need to know it''.
This was Conder Structures Ltd's second prosecution for a fatality caused by falling steel work.
(gmcg)
Conder Structures Ltd was fined following the death of a 16-year-old ground worker in an incident in which two structural steel columns were blown down by the wind. This incident also resulted in another worker being struck a "glancing" blow.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution followed the accident, which occurred on 28 November 2000 during the erection of a steel-framed building designed by Conder Structures Ltd and erected by their subcontactors at the Project Arrow construction site, Magna Park, Lutterworth, Leicestershire.
Christopher Kesterton, who had left school only weeks before the accident, was employed by a firm of ground workers for two weeks and was killed after being struck by the falling 17-metre tall steel column, weighing almost two tonnes.
Lee William Neal, supervisor of the steel erection team, was supervising Christopher who was using a pneumatic breaker. Two columns were blown over in the wind after they had been bolted down at their bases but were otherwise freestanding. The two workers were near the columns and ran to escape following a shouted warning.
Whilst Lee Neal escaped without serious injury, Christopher was killed instantly.
The HSE said that the two steel columns fell principally because the steel erectors had been "unable to fit stabilising wedges between the columns' base plates and the concrete foundation, and the columns had been left free-standing".
Conder Structures Limited pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSW Act), for failing to ensure the safety of a person not in their employment, at Leicester Crown Court, on Friday 4 July 2003.
The company admitted that the activities of their subcontractors were not adequately and competently supervised so as to ensure the safe erection of steel columns.
The company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the design for the building included adequate health and safety information, contrary to Regulation 13 (2) (b) of the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 1994 at Northampton Crown Court, on Friday 3 October 2003.
Today Conder Structures Limited was fined a total of £100,000 and ordered to pay £59374.51 costs at Leicester Crown Court.
HSE Inspector Mark Hatfield said: ''All designers should remember the critical part they play in the safety of the construction process. They need to have robust systems to ensure that designs are carried out or are supervised by trained and competent persons; that quality review procedures cover the most dangerous conditions in the life-time of a structure; and, that safety critical information is passed on to those who need to know it''.
This was Conder Structures Ltd's second prosecution for a fatality caused by falling steel work.
(gmcg)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
23 October 2015
£9m Support Package Announced For Tata Steel Workers
A support package of £9 million for Tata Steel employees and the local economy affected by the proposed job losses at the Scunthorpe steelworks has been announced.
£9m Support Package Announced For Tata Steel Workers
A support package of £9 million for Tata Steel employees and the local economy affected by the proposed job losses at the Scunthorpe steelworks has been announced.
23 November 2012
Tata Steel Cut 900 Jobs Nationwide
900 jobs are to be axed by Tata Steel across the UK, almost 600 of which will be at plants in Wales. It is understood most of the Welsh losses will be management and administrative posts in Port Talbot and Llanwern near Newport. 155 jobs in Yorkshire will go, alongside 120 in the West Midlands and 30 on Teesside.
Tata Steel Cut 900 Jobs Nationwide
900 jobs are to be axed by Tata Steel across the UK, almost 600 of which will be at plants in Wales. It is understood most of the Welsh losses will be management and administrative posts in Port Talbot and Llanwern near Newport. 155 jobs in Yorkshire will go, alongside 120 in the West Midlands and 30 on Teesside.
20 October 2006
Tata agree £4.3bn deal with Corus
Indian group Tata Steel has confirmed it has agreed a £4.3bn takeover from Anglo-Dutch steel company Corus. Tata said the acquisition is 'strategically compelling' and would create the fifth largest steel producer with pro forma crude steel output of 23.5 mln tonnes in 2005.
Tata agree £4.3bn deal with Corus
Indian group Tata Steel has confirmed it has agreed a £4.3bn takeover from Anglo-Dutch steel company Corus. Tata said the acquisition is 'strategically compelling' and would create the fifth largest steel producer with pro forma crude steel output of 23.5 mln tonnes in 2005.
16 October 2015
Newport Steel Plant Reopens After Two-And-A-Half Years
Liberty Steel plant in Newport has reopened, two-and-a-half years after it was mothballed. It is understood that production will resume at the plant with the 150 steel workers, laid off in 2013, returning to work. The plant, which was closed while its owners waited for the sector to improve, will produce steel coils used in roads and bridges.
Newport Steel Plant Reopens After Two-And-A-Half Years
Liberty Steel plant in Newport has reopened, two-and-a-half years after it was mothballed. It is understood that production will resume at the plant with the 150 steel workers, laid off in 2013, returning to work. The plant, which was closed while its owners waited for the sector to improve, will produce steel coils used in roads and bridges.
28 September 2015
1,700 Job Losses Following Steel Plant Closure
Around 1,700 jobs are to be lost in north-east England with the closure of SSI's iron and steelmaking plant in Redcar. SSI UK have announced that the plant will be "mothballed" due to ongoing issues with the supply of raw materials and services.
1,700 Job Losses Following Steel Plant Closure
Around 1,700 jobs are to be lost in north-east England with the closure of SSI's iron and steelmaking plant in Redcar. SSI UK have announced that the plant will be "mothballed" due to ongoing issues with the supply of raw materials and services.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Rain clearing away east by early evening with some clear spells but a few showers likely to affect the North coast and other areas towards dawn, remaining breezy and mild overnight. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
