Fatal scaffold collapse prompts GBP126000 fine
December 1, 2009
Two construction firms involved in a major scaffolding collapse at Milton Keynes have been ordered to pay a total of £126,000 for their role in the incident which left one man dead and two others seriously injured.
John Robinson, and his son Mark, were working on the Jurys Inn site in Witan Gate, Milton Keynes on April 11 2006, alongside Ivan Penkov. All three men were on the 40-metre high scaffolding when it collapsed.
They fell to the ground and were trapped under rubble until rescue workers could reach them.
Father of three, John Robinson, 49, was taken to hospital suffering from serious injuries to his left leg. Three days later he died from a pulmonary embolism, as a result of the damage to his leg.
Johns son Mark Robinson suffered a punctured lung, broken vertebra and ribs and significant cuts and bruising in the fall. He was unable to work for a period after the incident.
Ivan Penkov suffered serious fractures to his legs and arms and spent a month in hospital recovering. He has undergone a number of operations and has had to re-train as a draftsman.
In Huntingdon Crown Court today, the principal contractor on the Jurys Inn site, McAleer & Rushe Limited of Cookstown, N.Ireland was fined £90,000 and ordered to pay costs of £42,000. The cladder on the site, Lee Smith Carpentry Limited of Romsey, Hampshire was fined £36,000 and ordered to pay costs of £28,000.
The court heard that a combination of failures led to the scaffolding collapse. The scaffolding was not strong or stable enough for the work being carried out. Inspection of the scaffold was also inadequate, despite specific instructions from HSE and McAleer's health and safety manager.
Find out more about Construction Safety
John Robinson, and his son Mark, were working on the Jurys Inn site in Witan Gate, Milton Keynes on April 11 2006, alongside Ivan Penkov. All three men were on the 40-metre high scaffolding when it collapsed.
They fell to the ground and were trapped under rubble until rescue workers could reach them.
Father of three, John Robinson, 49, was taken to hospital suffering from serious injuries to his left leg. Three days later he died from a pulmonary embolism, as a result of the damage to his leg.
Johns son Mark Robinson suffered a punctured lung, broken vertebra and ribs and significant cuts and bruising in the fall. He was unable to work for a period after the incident.
Ivan Penkov suffered serious fractures to his legs and arms and spent a month in hospital recovering. He has undergone a number of operations and has had to re-train as a draftsman.
In Huntingdon Crown Court today, the principal contractor on the Jurys Inn site, McAleer & Rushe Limited of Cookstown, N.Ireland was fined £90,000 and ordered to pay costs of £42,000. The cladder on the site, Lee Smith Carpentry Limited of Romsey, Hampshire was fined £36,000 and ordered to pay costs of £28,000.
The court heard that a combination of failures led to the scaffolding collapse. The scaffolding was not strong or stable enough for the work being carried out. Inspection of the scaffold was also inadequate, despite specific instructions from HSE and McAleer's health and safety manager.
Find out more about Construction Safety
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