Northumberland company fined after fatal worker accident
A firm based in Northumberland has been sentenced and fined for health and safety failings, which lead to a teenage employee suffering a fatal accident.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 18-year-old employee, Jamie Lee Duddin lost his life when he was working for Scotts of Whittington Ltd. He was working with another employee to repair roof lights at a Heddon on the Wall barn in July 2010 when a roof panel collapsed and he fell 20 feet to a concrete floor below.
Mr Duddin was taken to hospital but tragically died from his injuries two days later.
Following an investigation, carried out by HSE officers and members of the Northumbria Police force, it was found that the firm and its directors did not take the proper safety measures to prevent the accident from happening.
As well as failing to provide adequate health and safety training for employees (specifically, training for working at height), Scotts of Whittington was accused of failing to provide adequate equipment and failing to supervise workers properly. For breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, the company was ordered to pay fines exceeding £80,000 in total.