![PP Construction Safety logo and link to home page [1]](http://www.ppconstructionsafety.com/wp-content/themes/ppcs960/images/ppcslogo.jpg)
FATAL FALL AT WARWICK CASTLE ENDS IN MASSIVE FINE
Operator warned of risk which claimed life of visitor to major attraction
Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd has ordered to pay almost £1/2 million in fines and prosecution costs following a 7 day trial over failure to protect visitors to Warwick Castle on 9th December 2007.
Visitor George Townley suffered fatal head injuries when he fell some 4m from the Bear & Clarence Bridge into the dry moat below. He was walking across the bridge when he stumbled and fall from the bridge which is one two routes crossing the moat into and out of the Castle. The parapet walls were 15″ in height. Scaffolding was erected on the bridge following death.
Fall from the bridge was identified as a hazard in a Public Entertainment Licence condition in 1995 and a `Fabric Survey Risk Assessment` in 2003. Merlin failed to pass this information to relevant managers at Warwick Castle, including the health and safety officer. The jury heard that Merlin failed to act on these warnings nor undertake a site specific risk assessment until after the fatal accident.
Proper risk assessments and measures are necessary to protect visitors
Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd had denied two charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act brought by Warwick District Council. The company was fined £350,000 and ordered it to pay £145,000 prosecutions costs.
Rob Chapleo, Divisional Environmental Health Officer said:
“Merlin Attractions Operations Limited were made aware that there was a risk of falling from the bridge on two separate occasions before the fatal accident. Mr Townley’s fatal accident was foreseeable and would not have occurred if Merlin had undertaken a “suitable and sufficient” risk assessment which, in the Council`s view, would have identified the need to provide barriers to the sides of the bridge.
These would have prevented people falling into the moat. I hope that this successful prosecution will draw the attention of the operators of sites open to the public to the need to undertake proper risk assessments and implement the measures necessary to protect visitor safety.”
Latest Construction Health and Safety News
HSE ENFORCEMENT WEEKLY UPDATE 13th JUNE 2018
Prosecutions and enforcement notices register latest version
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 13th June 2018DIRECTOR FAILED COMPLY WITH HSE PROHIBITION
Precautions not taken to prevent excavation collapse and falling
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 11th June 2018SCAFFOLD NOT TO INDUSTRY STANDARD OR DESIGN
Specialist and contractor in court over unsafe work at height
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 7th June 2018ROAD WORKER RUN OVER BY ROAD ROLLER
Reversing alarm not working and warning light not fitted
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 5th June 2018CLIENT AND SURVEYOR FINED OVER ASBESTOS SURVEY
Refurbishment and demolition asbestos survey proved inadequate
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 5th June 2018FATALITY: ROAD WORKER DRAGGED ALONG ROAD
Night shift worker loses life when struck by road sweeping vehicle
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 3rd June 2018CDM PRINCIPAL DESIGNERS AVOID HSE ENFORCEMENT
Regulator enforcement database reveals few notices involve CDM PDs
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 3rd June 2018PROPERTY MANAGERS FINED WITH CONTRACTOR
Defendants failed to check for asbestos during soffit replacement works
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 29th May 2018EXCAVATION CAUSED RETAINING WALL COLLAPSE
Precautions not taken to secure stability of free-standing wall
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 29th May 2018OVERHEAD CABLE STRIKE FIRM FINED £500,000+
Inadequate system caused risk of harm despite lack of worker injury
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 29th May 2018CDM 2015 PRINCIPAL DESIGNER FINED OVER FIRE RISK
PD and PC failed to comply with CDM 2015 responsibilities
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd May 2018SENTENCING GUIDELINES UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
Lawyer argues guidelines undermine reduction in ‘regulatory burden’
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd May 2018PANEL STRUCK WORKMAN DURING LIFTING OPERATION
Third party contractor falls victim of poor lift planning
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 21st May 2018DIRECTOR LED HAZARDOUS WORK AT HEIGHT
Three occasions when work lacked suitable and sufficient precautions
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 21st May 2018RISK ASSESSED BUT CONTROLS FOUND WANTING
Joiner fell through unprotected opening on roof of new building
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 21st May 2018RIBA CRITICAL OF HACKITT REVIEW FINAL REPORT
High rise residential review dismissed as “major missed opportunity”
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 21st May 2018CONSTRUCTION SECTOR DEATHS: THE ‘BIG THREE’
HSE in-year fatalities for 2017/18 may indicate upward trend
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 16th May 2018SCAFFOLDING SITE ACCIDENTS AT RECORD LOW
NASC Annual Report reveals all time low in 2017 incidents
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th May 2018DUMPER TRUCK HAND-BRAKE NOT MAINTAINED
Workman injured when pinned against stack of concrete blocks
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th May 2018SPARE POWER INTERLOCK KEY CAUSED DEATH
Dangerous machinery safety precautions defeated for maintenance tasks
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 10th May 2018COLLAPSED CAR PARK WAS UNDER REPAIR
Rusted steel supports triggered collapse of fascia and floor
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 8th May 2018DUMPER OVERTURN CAUSED FATAL INJURIES
Precautions during spoil heap creation were inadequate
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 8th May 2018HARDWOOD DUST CONTROL NOT MAINTAINED
Manufacturer failed to examine and test local extraction system
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 8th May 2018SCAFFOLD CONTRACTOR OVERLOOKED MAJOR HAZARD
Well-known risk unidentified during scaffold erection project
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 8th May 2018THREE FIRMS FINED £1/2M FOR FRAGILE RISK FAILURES
Fall through rooflight hazard poorly planned and managed
Posted on 2nd May 2018
