KM Carpentry Contractors Limited has been ordered to pay a fine of £8,000 due to a tragic incident that resulted in the death of a young carpenter, aged 22, at a construction site.
On October 30, 2019, while working at a new housing development in Alconbury Weald, Cambridgeshire, the young man from Kettering, Northamptonshire, was fatally injured by falling construction materials. The day prior to the accident, crane operations had placed truss packs and a party wall spandrel panel on top of semi-detached houses, where they were temporarily supported by wooden restraints.
The young carpenter was engaged in the task of spreading and installing roof trusses across the building with a colleague when a gust of wind dislodged a spandrel panel. This caused both the panel and the truss pack to topple into the work area, striking him and causing a fatal head injury.
The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) investigation revealed that KM Carpentry Contractors did not adequately assess the risk posed by wind to the stability of the spandrel panel before it was properly secured. The company’s method statement specified that spandrel panels should be placed on the roof only after the roof trusses had been installed and secured, a procedure that was not followed since both elements were placed simultaneously the day before.
On April 25, 2024, at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court, the company admitted to violating Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act and was fined £8,000, with additional costs of £6,974.
A statement from the family highlighted the profound impact of the loss: “Our family has been deeply affected by the absence of Niall. As one of his friends embarks on a journey to Australia, we are painfully reminded that Niall should be here, sharing in life’s adventures. He has been deprived of the chance to experience growing up, starting a family, and all the milestones that come with it. His untimely departure, for simply going to work, is a stark reminder that no one should leave for work and not return home.”