Scaffold Tragedy: East Lancashire Firms Prosecuted (1 Viewer)

SF Admin

Administrator
Joined
Aug 20, 2009
Messages
7,158
Reaction score
3
Two firms are being prosecuted over the death of a joiner in a fall more than three years ago.

Peter Walton, 55, died in June 2006, after scaffolding collapsed at an East Lancashire building site.

He suffered severe head injuries in the incident at Altham Industrial Estate and was in a coma for five-and-a-half weeks.

He was airlifted to hospital from the scene but never regained consciousness and died from massive brain injuries in the arms of Christine, his wife of 18 years, surrounded by family and friends.

Now, two firms are being prosecuted for allegedly failing to ensure the safety of the father-of-two and grandfather-of-four.

In the Health and Safety Executive prosecution, Glen Mill Group Developments Ltd, of Lomeshaye Business Village, Nelson, and Howorth Scaffolding Services Ltd, of Accrington Road, Hapton, are charged with exposing Peter Walton to health and safety risks while working at height.

Following Mr Walton’s death, Accrington CID and the Health and Safety Executive launched a joint investigation into the incident, and an inquest was opened by coroner Michael Singleton in September 2006.

The inquest was adjourned and transferred to East Lancashire Coroner’s Court, and was finally heard in April this year at Lancaster, with a narrative verdict recorded.

The coroner, Dr James Adeley, said Mr Walton’s death was accidental, but added that the scaffolding had not been erected properly and Mr Walton had been given permission to use it.

Evidence was given by Kieron Baines, a director of New Look Construction and close friend of Mr Walton, who told a jury how Mr Walton ‘disappeared’ through the third level of the scaffolding with no warning.

After taking early retirement from British Gas in 2004, Mr Walton went back to working as a self-employed joiner and had been based at the site for a couple of months before tragedy struck.

The case was adjourned by Hyndburn magistrates until January 13.

Source: Lancashire Telegraph
 
Top Bottom