Failings at site where man fell to his death

From the archive, first published Wednesday 4th Oct 2006.

A WORKER fell to his death at a building site riddled with health and safety failings, a court has heard.

David Moran, aged 31, had no qualifications in the building or demolition industry but was taken on to work cash in hand at an industrial unit at Chesford Grange in Woolston in September 2002.

He died after falling eight metres through a fragile roof, which he had been working on.

A jury at Warrington Crown Court this week heard the Health and Safety Executive allege that he and his friend, Anthony Harris, who was also working at the site, did not receive training about how to work on the roof.

Four parties - Excavation and Contracting (UK) Ltd, Elmsgold Haulage Ltd, Dennis O'Connor and John McSweeney - have pleaded guilty to a total of seven health and safety breaches in relation to the site.

All were involved in the demolition project of the former food factory, which was to be turned into commercial premises.

Glyn Hines, from Manchester, who was the site foreman, has denied breaching section seven of the health and safety at work act and Bernard O'Sullivan, former owner of Excavation and Contracting UK, has denied breaching section three of the health and safety at work act.

Excavation and Contracting were employed as the contractors on the site and subcontracted the demolition work to Elmsgold.

Bernard O'Sullivan is accused of failing to ensure non-employees were not exposed to health and safety risks and Glyn Hines is alleged to have failed to take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

Nigel Lawrence, prosecuting, told the court that the incident took place on September 20 and that there were no precautions in place to stop Mr Moran or Mr Harris from falling when they began removing some of the roof lights.

He said that at about 11.30 that morning, the pair decided they needed more tools to carry on the job and David Moran headed back across the roof to get them.

Mr Lawrence added: "It was at this stage the accident happened.

"At around noon, Dennis O'Connor was assisting a driver to reverse and pick up a skip in the main warehouse when he spotted a body near the skip."

The case continues.