Building company fined after death
Posted: September 7, 2013
Posted in: Employer Negligence Falls from Heights Workplace Injuries Wrongful & Accidental Death
Building company ‘Chestnut Homes’ has been fined a total of £40,000 after Justin Gillman (26) fell from scaffolding in 2010, resulting in his death. The judge described the death of the bricklayer as an “accident waiting to happen” after an HSE investigation found that the scaffolding had been built by two untrained workmen and was considered extremely dangerous.
Mr. Gillman fell from the construction while pulling a trolley full of bricks. He stumbled off of the scaffolding, as no guardrail was in place, and was crushed by the trolley’s contents.
Sentence is not enough
Lincoln Crown Court fined the owner of Chestnut Homes, David Newton – also the chairman of Boston United – a total of £40,000 and issued the Manager, Peter Tute, a total of 240 hours community service. The family of Mr. Gillman has argued that this is not enough.
Justin Gillman’s father Alan said: “We are always thinking of Justin. Two-hundred and forty hours for gross negligence is nowhere near enough … The £40,000 fine for a company that’s portrayed to be worth millions is nothing at all.” They told the court that they hoped lessons would be learned from his death and that other families would not have to experience a similar situation.
The judge Michael Heath said that no sentence could measure up to the death of Mr. Gillman because “every human death is priceless”. Both Mr. Tute and Chestnut Homes admitted to breaching Health and Satety at Work legislation, for which the court will determine a cost at a later date.
If you have been affected by an injury sustained at work, and are looking to claim compensation, please contact us.
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