A contractor has been prosecuted after a worker died during work to dismantle temporary roofing at Devonport Naval Base.

Pyeroy Ltd of St Omers Road, Western Riverside Route, Gateshead pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 (1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The company was fined £130,000 with more than £14,388 in costs.

Plymouth Magistrates Court heard Keith Stevens, 57, was helping to dismantle temporary roofing at the base using a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) on 21 October 2013.

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However, his colleagues found him trapped between a roof beam and the controls of the MEWP. There was a delay in Mr Stevens being lowered to ground. He died of a pre-existing heart condition.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found Pyeroy had not properly planned the work on a MEWP in restricted overhead areas It was also found that other Pyeroy employees had not received suitable training in the emergency lowering procedure of the elevated platforms and no practice drills had been carried out.

HSE inspector Helena Allum said: "If Pyeroy had trained other employees to use the mobile elevated work platform in emergency situations, Mr Stevens would have been lowered to the ground more swiftly.

"This case highlights the need for duty holders to properly plan all work at height beforehand, including emergency planning and rescue situations."

(LM/MH)