Company fined after construction worker's death

Sat, 30 Jul 2016

A risk assessment carried out on a construction site where a worker died in 2013 has been dubbed "completely inadequate".

That's according to the Isle of Man's Health and Safety Inspectorate which compiled a report following the death of 55-year-old Gareth Sowden in May of that year.

He died from crush injuries at a sewerage treatment site in Kirk Michael - a container fell over trapping him underneath.

Sewerage company Tuke and Bell Ltd later pleaded guilty to the health and safety breach of failing to discharge duty - at Douglas Courthouse this week the company was fined £24,000 and ordered to pay £6,000 in costs.

Sentencing the company Deemster Birkett said he was satisfied "lessons have been learned" describing it as a "tragic accident".

JCK Limited - which had been charged with the same offence - was cleared of causing his death last month after standing trial.