Jail sentence for site manager due to health and safety failings

A site manager in Slough, Berkshire has been handed a prison sentence following a five-year investigation into a fatal incident.

On August 30, 2012, Amanda Telfer, a 43-year-old, was crushed to death by falling window frames as she strolled past a building site. The three frames had been propped up against a wall, without any form of restraints to hold them secure. Weighing around half a ton, the frames fell onto Telfer and crushed her to death.

It was not until March this year that Kelvin Adsett, 64, was found guilty of breaches of health and safety regulations and gross negligence. The site manager was handed a 12-month prison sentence for manslaughter, followed by another sentence of nine months for breaching regulations, which will run concurrently.

Damian Lakin-Hall was also convicted under Section 7a of the Health and Safety at Work Act, as he had told investigating officers that the frames had been secured by suitable restraints, which was found to be untrue. His sentence was six months in prison, suspended for two years.

IS Europe Ltd, the company for which Adsett was working, was fined £100,000 and also ordered to pay costs of £100,000, although the Old Bailey was informed that there was only £250 in the company accounts.

Health and safety regulations are put in place to protect workers and members of the public from tragic incidents like this one. The use of specialist workwear, PPE and other methods all contribute to increased safety in the workplace.