AUGUST 2017 | 25
News
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
LAWYER’S TRAGIC DEATH
‘COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE’
The tragic case of lawyer Amanda Telfer has highlighted the horrendous
consequences when construction firms fail to take health and safety seriously.
Amanda, 43, was walking
past a construction site in Mayfair,
London, in August 2012 when
three window frames weighing
more than half a ton toppled
over and fell on her. Amanda was
crushed to death when the large
unsecured frames fell over.
The window frames - one around
3.2m square and two approximate-
ly 3.3m x 1.8m - had been deliv-
ered the previous day as scheduled
but couldn’t be fitted immediately
due to other delays on site.
The frames were left on the
pavement overnight, leaning
against the building. No efforts
were made to secure them and no
barrier placed around them. No
checks were made on them when
the individual defendants arrived
on site the next morning.
In May this year, a man was sen-
tenced for manslaughter by gross
negligence. Kelvin Adsett, 64, of
New Road, Slough, Berkshire, had
earlier been convicted at the Old
Bailey of the offence and an of-
fence contrary to Section 7a of the
Health and Safety at Work Act.
He was sentenced to 12 months’
imprisonment for manslaughter
and nine months’ imprisonment
for the Health and Safety offence -
sentences to run concurrently.
Damian Lakin-Hall, 50, of Ports-
mouth Road, Cobham, Surrey, was
convicted of offences contrary to
Section 7a of the Health and Safety
at Work Act. He was sentenced to
six months’ imprisonment, sus-
pended for two years.
A company - IS Europe Ltd of
Slough, Berkshire - was convicted
of offences under Section 2 and 3
of the Health and Safety at Work
Act. They were fined £100,000 but
the court heard their accounts con-
tained only £250.
Costs of £100,000 were also
awarded to be divided equally
between the Metropolitan Police,
Health and Safety Executive and
Crown Prosecution Service.
Detective Chief Inspector An-
drew Chalmers said: “The sentenc-
ing concludes an incredibly long
and complex investigation that has
taken almost five years to bring
before the courts.
“The enforcement of the law
is key to safeguarding workers
and the public alike and this case
demonstrates, unfortunately in the
most tragic way, what happens
when individuals and companies
do not take their health and safety
obligations seriously.
“Each had a responsibility for
the safety of the construction site
but failed to deal with a basic task
that very obviously then presented
a serious hazard. Amanda’s death
was completely avoidable and it is
only right that those who failed in
their duty that day have been held
to account.
“I hope this case will serve as a
stark reminder to others that health
and safety laws exist for a reason
and must be adhered to.”
Jack Wilby, an Inspector for the
Health and Safety Executive said:
“With our knowledge and exper-
tise, we supported both the police
investigation and the prosecution
brought by the Crown Prosecution
Service.
“An obvious risk was not addressed
and allowed to continue. Those
sentenced had responsibilities to
protect others from their actions. The
construction work was not planned,
managed or monitored properly.”