Construction Company Fined £1.5million Following Death of Employee

Teesside Crown Court have recently fined Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd £1.5 million after HSE have found that their negligence led to the death of Keith Poppleton following an incident on the 25^th of October 2016.

Mr Poppleton, an electrician, had been sent to repair wiring that was causing a short circuit on the lifting equipment of a large overhead gantry crane, known as C25. When travelling across the walkway, an access panel caved in, causing him to fall to the ground below. Sadly, the local hospital then pronounced Mr Poppleton as deceased due to the injuries sustained.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has since held that Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd failed to maintain the access panels, despite the panels being used to replace lighting fittings only months earlier. It was also found that the panel required a weld repair and the company failed to implement steps to ensure that the panel could not fall.

Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd fell into administration in 2021, owing over £21 million to its creditors. Despite this, Teesside Crown Court still fined the company £1.5 million and ordered them to pay costs of £29,239.

Following the hearing, HSE have advised that “Mr Poppleton and others were at risk from serious injury whilst walking on a gantry 26 feet high, as the company had failed to assess the risk of these access platforms, which should be secured in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

“This was an incident, which could easily have been prevented had the company considered the risks associated with such access panels not being secured in place following maintenance work and general wear and tear.”

Mr Poppleton is survived by his wife and three children. His wife, Catherine Poppleton stated that “The day Keith died a large part of me died with him. He was my world, he was the reason my life was interesting, exciting, safe and I felt loved.

“He was risk-averse and this respect for safety was something he practised as well as taught. I feel that the ‘me’ before losing Keith has gone. I do not feel like myself anymore, I do not feel whole.”

What should I do if an accident has happened at my workplace?

As the above case demonstrates, accidents at work can have far reaching consequences to victims, staff members  and companies directly, with many incidents being easily preventable.

Here at Oakwood Solicitors, we have a wealth of experience in advising employees and companies regarding their rights and obligations.

We can advise you on your legal position and assist you with a claim you may wish to make (even if you are an agency worker). Claims can include reimbursing any loss of earnings you have incurred and providing any treatment which may be needed for your injury.

Further reading

• Full details regarding the claims process and potential remedies can be found in our article here, or for more information about accidents in the workplace, read our FAQ.
• ACAS

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