The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has reminded companies to ensure that they pay attention to trainees' health and safety needs and that they are supervised properly.

The warning came after three companies and a manager were fined a total of £217,500 plus a total of £125,000 costs at Manchester Crown Court today for breaching health and safety law, following the death of a 17-year-old trainee scaffolder.

Steven Burke, from Levenshulme, Manchester, died at Davyhulme Wastewater Treatment Works on 30 January 2004 after falling approximately 18 metres whilst working to construct a scaffold within a 20-metre high sewage digester tank.

He was employed by 3D Scaffolding Ltd and under the control of a visiting contracts manager, David Swindell. Irlam was contracted to work for RAM Services Ltd, itself a subcontractor of the project's principal contractor, Mowlem Group PLC.


3D Scaffolding Ltd, of Brunnell Drive, on the Northbank Industrial Estate in Irlam, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSW Act) that it failed to maintain a safe system of work and was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £20,000 costs.

David Swindell Junior of Barrington Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, a contracts manager employed by 3D Scaffolding Ltd, was found guilty of breaching section 7 of the HSW Act in that he failed to take reasonable care for the health and safety of other persons who might be affected by his acts or omissions at work. He was fined £7,500 and ordered to pay £15,000 costs.

The Principal contractor, Mowlem Plc, of White Lion Court, Swan Street, Isleworth, Middlesex, and RAM Services Ltd of Holyoake House, Lowerhouse Lane, Burnley, which employed 3D Scaffolding Ltd, each pleaded guilty to charges of breaching section 3(1) of the Act, in that they failed to ensure the safety of people not in their employment. Mowlem was fined £75,000 and ordered to pay £20,000 costs. RAM Services Ltd also pleaded guilty to a charge, under Regulation 29 of the Construction (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1996, in that they failed to ensure that scaffolding used by their own employees had been properly inspected to ensure that it was safe to use. RAM Services was fined a total of £75,000 and ordered to pay £70,000 costs.

(JM)