Have a question?
033 3772 0409

Personal Injury Solicitors

Demolition firm fined over fatal incident (6 July 2015)

Date: 06/07/2015
Duncan Lewis, Personal Injury Solicitors, Demolition firm fined over fatal incident

A demolition firm has been successfully prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), after a worker died when he drove a mini digger out of a fourth floor opening.

The HSE found that 31-year-old James Stacey was using the opening as part of a “drop zone” to drop large fibreglass tanks that had been cut in half to the ground below.

The opening was not properly protected to prevent the machine falling from the building, however, and the tank got stuck on the digger and pulled the vehicle with it.

Mr Stacey died from his injuries in the incident on 9 November 2011 at the former Cadbury’s Somerdale factory, near Bristol.

On Wednesday, 1 July at Bristol Crown Court, Euro Dismantling Solutions Limited (now in liquidation) pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, after they failed to ensure the safety of James Stacey whilst carrying out demolition work.

The company was fined £80,000.

Site Supervisor, Paul Ben Priestley, 54, was also charged under Section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, after failing to take reasonable care.

He denied the charges, but was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on 21 May 2015 – and was given a 12-month custodial sentence suspended for two years, with costs of £7,500.

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no fee Fatal Injury Claims

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise bereaved families whose loved one has died in an incident caused by the negligence of another party on how to make a no win no fee compensation claims, including claims relating to:

• Accidents at work
• Animal attacks
• Claims against MoD
• Criminal injuries
• Cycling accidents
• Holiday accidents
• Industrial accidents
• Medical negligence
• Public liability claims
• Road traffic accidents
• School accidents
• Sports accidents.

Personal injury claims have to be made within three years of death –
or diagnosis of injury which caused or contributed to death (eg at post-mortem or after a Coroner’s verdict).

In cases involving criminal injuries, a claim can be made under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme and through the civil courts.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Fatal Injury Claims, call Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors on 020 7923 4020.


For all Personal Injury related matter contact us now.Contact Us

Call us now on 033 3772 0409 or click here to send online enquiry.
Duncan Lewis is the trading name of Duncan Lewis (Solicitors) Limited. Registered Office is 143-149 Fenchurch St, London, EC3M 6BL. Company Reg. No. 3718422. VAT Reg. No. 718729013. A list of the company's Directors is displayed at the registered offices address. Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority . Offices all across London and in major cities in the UK. ©Duncan Lewis >>Legal Disclaimer, Copyright & Privacy Policy. Duncan Lewis do not accept service by email.