Construction firm fined £160K for fatal fall at Everton FC training ground

A “GOLD standard” construction company was fined £160,000 fine after a builder died after plunging 20ft at Everton’s training ground.
Labourer Karl Davis fell from an open window while Finch Farm, in Halewood, was under construction, as he cleared up for a visit by the team in February, 2007.

Mr Davis, of Wallasey, died three months later in hospital from serious head and neck injuries – just six days after his 43rd birthday.
At Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, building firm Kier North West, who were responsible for the site, were fined and ordered to pay £44,000 in costs after admitting breaching health and safety laws.

Simon Parrington, prosecuting, told how, four days before his death, Mr Davis and a colleague attached a rubbish chute to a section of scaffolding outside what was to become the first-floor players’ restaurant, so waste could be disposed of safely.

But, on February 27, as Mr Davis tidied up for the visit, the guard rail gave way causing him to fall head-first. Mr Parrington said site bosses should have been aware the scaffolding erected was inadequate to sustain the weight of the rubbish chute and was likely to give way.

Michael Hayton, defending, said Kier had cooperated with the investigation and done “everything they can” to prevent any recurrence of the tragedy.

Source: Liverpool Daily Post

Never nice to hear anything like this.
But makes me think why on earth would he have been fitting a chute to a scaffold if he was only a site labourer?
Obviously not clipped on whilst leaning out over the handrail.

very sad indeed that a man is put in that position by people that know better