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A specialist construction company has been fined £60,000 following the death of a worker who fell from a church steeple in Birmingham.
David Clover, 64, was employed by Ecclesiastical Steeplejacks Ltd to perform restoration work on the 60-metre-high steeple of St Nicholas’ Church, Kings Norton, on 13 November 2020.
While suspended in a ‘bosun’s chair,’ a work positioning seat, he fell and suffered fatal injuries.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that the bosun’s chair lacked a suitable backup system, such as a twin-leg lanyard fall arrest harness, to prevent falls.
The company, which has since ceased trading but was previously based in Stirchley, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to breaching the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
The hearing, held at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on 15 January 2025, resulted in a £60,000 fine.
In sentencing, Judge Quereshi criticised the firm’s outdated approach to managing health and safety, highlighting the preventable nature of the incident.
HSE inspector Emma Page expressed condolences to Mr Clover’s family and emphasised the ongoing risks associated with working at height.
“Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of work-related deaths and injuries in Great Britain. We will take action against companies that fail to protect workers.”
Statistics from the HSE show that 50 people died from falls at height in 2023/24. Updated guidance on mitigating these risks is available on the HSE’s website.
This prosecution was conducted by HSE enforcement lawyer Julian White and paralegal officer Imogen Isaac.
