Industry news
Barn fall killed teenage worker
Posted Mon, 16 Jul 2012
A teenage worker fell to his death while carrying out repairs to a barn's roof lights, a court has heard.
Jamie Lee Duddin, 18, was working with another Scotts of Whittington Ltd employee to complete the repair at Heddon Low Farm, Heddon on the Wall, Northumberland, when the incident happened on 23 July, 2010.
Investigators from Northumbria Police and the Health and Safety Executive discovered that the work had not been planned properly, inadequate equipment had been provided, and the workers had not been trained or supervised properly, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
The firm, Scotts of Whittington Ltd, admitted breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was given a £65,000 fine.
Meanwhile, company director Alfred Wood, 65, and his son Christopher Wood, 41, who is also a director at the company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) by virtue of Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
They have been fined £13,000 and £2,000 respectively, as well as being ordered to pay combined court costs of £19,000.
Copyright Press Association 2012