F J Chalcroft fined £260,000 over employee death

F J Chalcroft (Construction) has been fined £260,000 and ordered to pay £80,000 costs after an employee was killed by falling from height.

Daniel Askew, aged 22, from Capek Iwan, Pembrokeshire, died when he fell 10m after leaning on an unsecured handrail on the mezzanine area of a cold store under construction at the premises of Phil Hanley, on the Belle Eau Industrial Park, Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire.

The firm pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) and 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, which state employers must ensure welfare of employees and not expose them to risk.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) warned employers they must control the risks of falls from height in the workplace.

Falls from height remain the most common kind of accident causing fatal injuries. Latest figures show 46 people died from a fall from height at work in 2005/06, with 3351 seriously injured.

Cliff Seymour, HSE inspector, said: "This was a tragic accident which resulted in the death of young man with his life ahead of him. Falls from height remain the most common kind of accident causing fatal injuries.”