Prosecutions

Building firm fined £2.3 million over failings that led to worker drowning in river

By on

A construction firm has been fined more than £2 million after a worker drowned in a river when the boat that he was using to help remove debris from the bottom of a weir capsized.


Gary Webster, aged 60, died two days after falling into the River Aire in Yorkshire on 30 October 2017. He and another worker had been clearing debris from the bottom of the weir gates at Knostrup Weir, when the boat they were in capsized after being dragged into turbulent water flowing over the top of the weir.

Gary Webster had been clearing debris from the bottom of the weir gates at Knostrop Weir when the boat he was on capsized. Photograph: iStock/Philip Silverman

The other worker swam to safety, but Mr Webster was repeatedly pulled under the water. He was recovered 14 minutes later by a diver but was pronounced dead on 1 November 2017 at Leeds General Infirmary.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which investigated the incident, said that Mr Webster’s employer, Surrey-based BAM Nuttall Ltd, had operatives who were trained and authorised to slow down the flow of water over the weir by controlling the gates. However, the company had “failed” to carry this out.

HSE inspector Jayne Towey said the construction company had “failed to plan the work, failed to carry out any assessment of the risks involved with the task, and failed to have any regard to the recognised hierarchy of controls to reduce the risk associated with removing debris from the water”. It had also failed to put in place a safe system of work.

BAM Nuttall pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It was fined £2.3 million and ordered to pay more than £25,000 in costs at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on 12 June.

The fine comes a week after telecoms company OpenReach was fined £1.3 million over the death of an engineer, who was also swept away by a flooded river while working.

PROSECUTIONS


Balfour Beatty Crane HSE

Balfour Beatty fined over Birmingham University scissor lift death

By Kerry Reals on 18 September 2024

Construction firm Balfour Beatty has been fined £285,000 after a worker fell and died when a scissor lift was knocked over by a crane during building works at the University of Birmingham.



National Grid Pylon HSE

National Grid fined £3.2 million after pylon worker receives 33,000-volt shock

By Kerry Reals on 09 September 2024

The National Grid has been fined £3.2 million after a worker suffered “life-changing” burns from a 33,000-volt shock while working on a pylon, to which the electricity had not been switched off.



Thomas Brooke HSE

Family-run recycling firm fined after employee killed by wheel loader

By Kerry Reals on 27 August 2024

A Nottingham-based wood recycling company has been fined £22,500 and ordered to pay costs of more than £44,000 after an employee was struck by a wheel loader and killed.