Construction Health & Safety News, Advice and Information from PP Construction Safety

Court convicts geotechnical company over manslaughter of young geologist 

Cotswold Geotechnical (Holdings) Ltd has become the first company to be convicted under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 following the death of young geologist, Alexander Wright.

The jury took just one-and-a-half hours to find that the way company senior staff managed and organised the business caused the death of Mr Wright who died when an excavation collapsed on a site near Stroud in September 2008.

The case was adjourned for sentence on Thursday 17 February. The company faces an unlimited fine.

Comment

It will interesting to hear any judicial observations on this first CMCH 2007 conviction when the sentencing takes place on Thursday. The size and financial position of the company may well preclude imposition of a substantial fine.  

The majority of construction sector dutyholders are unlikely to learn much from this case about the implications of CMCH 2007.

This article was posted on 16th February 2011 in ALL LATEST NEWS, MANSLAUGHTER, PROSECUTIONS, manslaughter.
PP Construction Safety H&S Assistance and Consultancy service.