Subscribe to our Construction Newsfeed
UK Construction Directory
Search our 157,512 companies....

Construction News

11/04/2016

Construction Boss Jailed After Workers Fall Through Roof

Construction News Image
The boss of a construction company has been sentenced to jail after two of his workers fell through a roof they were repairing in Stockport.

Allan Thompson, of Woodburn Crescent, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, was found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter, while both he and his company Building and Dismantling Contractors were found guilty of offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act and for breaching regulations of the Work at Height Regulations.

Mr Thompson was jailed for six years and fined £400,000 with £55,000 in costs.

His company had been subcontracted by C. Smith and Sons to level the Harvey's and Carpetright buildings in Heaton Norris, Stockport in 2014.

Michael Smith of Lightowlers Lane, Rochdale, and his company C. Smith and Sons, were found guilty of offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act, as well as breaches in both CDM Regulations and Work at Height Regulations.

He was jailed for eight months and fined £90,000 with £45,000 in costs.

Manchester Crown Court heard how C. Smith and Sons had won the contract to demolish the buildings and it was originally planned that plant machinery would be used to remotely bring down the structure.
-- Advertisement --
hss



However, Mr Smith decided the building should instead be dismantled piece by piece, meaning workers would be required to remove materials at height prior to the structure being unbolted.

Subsequently, four men employed by Building and Dismantling Contractors travelled to Stockport to carry out the work on 15 January 2014.

The roof of the building was made up of steel corrugated sheets with interspersed plastic skylights, which had deteriorated over time and had subsequently been covered with corrugated steel sheets in a bid to repair the damage.

On 20 January 2014 one of the men, 42-year-old Scott Harrower, accidentally stepped through a skylight and nearly fell 30 feet to the floor below.

On that occasion he managed to prevent himself from falling, but the near miss did not prevent the men from returning to carry out their work the next day.

Just after 9am on Tuesday, 21 January 2014, a 47-year-old member of the group fell through a skylight to the floor below and fractured his spine, pelvis, right leg, heel and wrist.

Despite the incident, the men were ordered to return to the work hours later and at 4pm Mr Harrower fell through a skylight.

He suffered catastrophic head injuries and died as a result.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Eales said: "First and foremost, our condolences go to the families of Scott and his colleague, who were the victims of both companies' criminal negligence and who died in tragically preventable circumstances.

"It is clear from the evidence that both Smith and Thomson saw an opportunity to make a quick profit without any thought for the workers they sent on to the roof, and as a direct result of that greed Scott died and another man suffered life-changing injuries.

"Smith and Thomson's remorse did not then stretch to admitting their guilt, as both tried to hide behind their companies and refused to plead guilty to the charges levelled against them personally.

"Thankfully, the jury saw through their attempts and both now can face justice for the decisions that they made, decisions that have robbed one family of a loving partner, father, and son, and another of a man's ability to live a life untainted by severe physical injury."

(LM)

Latest Construction News

18/07/2025
Clowes Developments, in partnership with Roe Developments, has officially begun enabling works for the next phase of Stud Brook Business Park in Castle Donington. The latest expansion will deliver five new trade counter, warehouse, and industrial units, ranging in size from 3,229 sq ft to 4,606 sq
18/07/2025
The Bracknell Forest Cambium Partnership between Countryside Partnerships (part of the Vistry Group) and Bracknell Forest Council has celebrated a major milestone in the transformation of Bracknell town centre, as its 169-home Market Street regeneration scheme reaches its highest point. A topping o
18/07/2025
Construction has officially begun on Reading's newest performance venue, as work starts on the new Studio Theatre being built alongside The Hexagon. The first phase of the project, led by Feltham Construction Ltd, includes the demolition of the existing backstage area, dock, and stage door on Queen
18/07/2025
A disused shop unit in Spennymoor has been given a new lease of life, thanks to a regeneration project that has turned the space into a green community garden in the heart of the County Durham town. The former retail premises at 55–63 Festival Walk, which had remained vacant despite efforts to attr
18/07/2025
Wates Residential business has awarded £45,000 in funding to seven grassroots organisations in Brent through its newly launched Community Chest initiative. The programme is designed to support small, community-led projects that address pressing local needs such as social isolation, youth services,
18/07/2025
Network Rail (Wales and Borders) has commenced a major programme of engineering works across key rail routes in South Wales, aimed at maintaining and improving the safety and reliability of the region's railway network. Running from Saturday 2 August to Monday 11 August, the works will focus on tra
18/07/2025
A significant milestone has been reached in the drive to deliver high-quality, affordable, and sustainable housing across York and North Yorkshire with the launch of a new Affordable Homes Standard. Led by the York and North Yorkshire Housing Partnership, the Standard marks a united commitment from
18/07/2025
Mace has been appointed to Transport for Greater Manchester's (TfGM) next-generation Transport and Professional Services (TPS2025) Framework, earning a place on the Project Cost and Commercial Management Lot. The appointment extends Mace's successful partnership with TfGM and the Greater Manchester
17/07/2025
Pennyfarthing Homes has received detailed planning approval for the first 74 homes at Sandle Park, a new residential development forming part of the wider Forde Valley neighbourhood, located just a mile northwest of Fordingbridge town centre. The approval, granted by New Forest District Council's P
17/07/2025
Bouygues UK has officially handed over the first phase of the Cotswolds Designer Outlet in Tewkesbury to regional developer and investor Robert Hitchins Ltd, with the new retail destination opening its doors to the public for the first time. As lead contractor, Bouygues UK delivered 136,000 sq ft o
Stuart CanvasLakeside HireAqua Direct LtdEfco UK LtdCommfire LtdAccess Design & Safety LtdNorth West Surfacing ContractorsTheos Timber Ltd (Manchester)Ashdan Consulting LtdHopkins Estates Concrete