A director of a construction company has been sent to jail
following the death of two workers for which he was responsible. This is the
first time a custodial sentence has been given in these circumstances.
Brian Dean, director of Stoke-on-Trent firm Brian Dean,
Builders and Civil Engineers, was sentenced in May to 18 months in custody
after being found guilty of the manslaughter of Michael and Carl Redgate.
The case was the result of a joint investigation by the
Health and Safety Executive, Staffordshire police and the Crown Prosecution
Service.
The two workers were killed in July 2000. They were
demolishing a tunnel kiln in Stoke-on- Trent when it collapsed, burying them
under tonnes of rubble.
Dean was also charged with failing to provide a safe system
of work and failing to provide information instruction, training and
supervision to ensure their health and safety.
Dave Boulton, HSE investigating inspector, said: "It is
important to understand, if you are in charge of work activities and someone is
killed, you could be on trial for manslaughter."
George Brumwell, leader of the construction union UCATT,
added: "This sentence should send shockwaves through the building industry
where health and safety regulations are all too often ignored."
The HSE’s ‘blitz’ on construction sites that began in April
has been continuing, with inspectors descending on sites in Scotland and
northern England.
The surprise inspections during May led to enforcement
action being taken at more than half of the 444 sites visited.
It follows a similar blitz on sites in London, which led to
enforcement action being taken against almost two-thirds of the 223 sites
visited.
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The HSE’s campaign will continue across the country for the
next 12 months.
