INQUEST: BUILDERS PANICKED AND ‘DUMPED’ BODY

Coroner hears how alcohol triggered ladder fall fatality

An inquest reported by the Mail Online has heard how builders on a construction project panicked when a fellow worker died after he fell from a ladder. The workmen had been drinking and dumped his body on an estate in Buckinghamshire.

The men had been working on a ‘bitterly cold’ day in a house in Maidenhead, on January 24 2012, and they decided to go to a local shop and buy vodka. Mr Karpuc fell as he climbed down a ladder landing on his chest and puncturing his lung. He died almost immediately. The body was discovered four days later on Wooburn Common by a shooting party including Lord Burnham.

Det Sergeant Paul Quinton said:

“The weather was particularly foul and to keep warm they all decided to drink neat vodka. Over the course of the day the deceased and his work colleagues purchased a bottle of vodka each from a local store and shared the contents amongst themselves. This is believed to have resulted in high levels of intoxication.”

A post mortem examination revealed that Mr Karpuc suffered an intrapulmonary haemorrhage in the presence of alcohol following a fall from height. A toxicology report showed he had 284mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood (some three-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit).

Karen Morris of HSE told the inquest:

“supervisor Michael O’Heney had been away from the site, and had not known that his workers had been drinking – or what had happened to Mr Karpuc. He is very shocked by this, I have no reason to believe Mr O’Heney knew there was drinking on his site, I don’t think it was a regular occurrence and there is no suggestion he was condoning this behaviour”

The inquest jury recorded a verdict of accidental death. The hearing was also told that Mr Karpuc’s colleagues are the subject of legal proceedings due to be heard at Reading Crown Court. They have been charged with obstructing a coroner.

This article was posted on 14th February 2013 in ALL LATEST NEWS, INQUESTS.
PP Construction Safety H&S Assistance and Consultancy service.

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

INQUEST: BUILDERS PANICKED AND ‘DUMPED’ BODY

Coroner hears how alcohol triggered ladder fall fatality

Latest Construction Health and Safety News

SEVENTH LONDON CYCLIST DEATH DURING 2018

Building products vehicle involved in death of Queens doctor

HSE ENFORCEMENT WEEKLY UPDATE 15th AUGUST 2018

Prosecutions and enforcement notices register latest version

MAJOR CONTRACTOR FAILED TO SUPERVISE LIFT

Errors whilst lifting pre-cast concrete blocks fined £600,000

FIRM FINED £400,000 OVER VIBRATING TOOLS RISK

Hand-held orbital sanders, rivet guns, grinders and drills caused harm

OVERHEAD POWER AND EARTHING OF SCAFFOLDS

NASC combines updates advice on scaffold electrical risks

REVERSING VEHICLE CLAIMED LIFE OF ‘BANKSMAN’

Workman trapped whilst assisting colleague in reversing lorry

TWO WORKMEN DIED IN SPRAY BOOTH EXPLOSION

Flammable vapour ignited by ignition sources present at the scene

SOLAR SPECIALIST FAILED TO PLAN FOR SAFETY

Fragile roof failed under weight of solar installation worker

DIRECTOR AND COMPANY FINED FOR SAFETY BREACHES

Basic work at height risks and welfare requirements ignored

REFURB PROJECT REQUIRED ASBESTOS ASSESSMENT

Property management firm fined over lack of asbestos survey

CLIENT FAILED MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS TEST

Homes developer prosecuted for breaching CDM 2015 client duties

JAIL TERM FOR DEVELOPER AFTER BUILDING COLLAPSE

Inexperienced workers demolished structure without Principal Contractor

CDM 2015 DUTYHOLDERS IGNORED HSE ADVICE

Contractor, client and director convicted after dangerous site conditions

MASSIVE FINE OVER USE OF UNSAFE GAS FITTINGS

College gas installation contractor exposed after multiple gas leaks

TEMP WORKS DESIGNED BY MANAGER AND UNCHECKED

Collapse of platform highlighted failure in temporary works management

RAISING SAFETY STANDARDS FOR CRANE LIFTING OPS

Major crane seminar seeks to raise standards and share best practice

WORKMAN SURVIVES 6m FALL THROUGH ROOFLIGHT

Unsecured boards provided to cover nearby fragile materials

MAJOR FACILITIES FIRM FAILED ON FLAT ROOF SAFETY

Site specific planning lacking and safety standards not monitored

HSE ALERT: UNAUTHORISED ACCESS TO SCAFFOLDS

Regulator sets out new guidance to protect children and the public

ASSUMING OTHERS WILL ACT IS NO DEFENCE

Incomplete edge protection caused 8m fall from roof

LEADING ROOFING SPECIALIST FOUND WANTING

Risk to employees and the public after failure to meet required standard

SCAFFOLDER DEVELOPMENT EMBRACED BY INDUSTRY

CPD training attracts over 2500 scaffolders during first year of operation

SECURITY PANELS FELL DESPITE EARLY WARNING

Firm fined £1/4 million after worker crushed by falling fencing

VEHICLE STRIKE TRIGGERED FALL OF ROOF TRUSSES

Manufacturer failed to identify a suitable safe system of work

INCIDENT: CHILD STRUCK BY FALLING OBJECT

Wood falling from scaffold triggers arrest of two on construction site

News Archives