Demolition site supervisor on trial after worker falls to his death gutting Keynsham factory
A demolition man is on trial after a worker plunged to his death whilst gutting the former Cadbury’s Somerdale factory in Keynsham.
James Stacey was using a mini-digger to push a large piece of fibreglass tank from the fourth floor of the building, Bristol Crown Court heard. But the machine’s toothed bucket snagged on the tank, causing him and the machine to plummet with it to the ground. The 31-year-old, from Barry, died instantly, the court heard.
It is claimed that, between August 1 and November 10, 2011, he failed to take reasonable care for the health and safety of others by:
• failing to conduct adequate inductions and “toolbox talks”
• failing to act on operatives’ requests for better safety measures or safety equipment
• covering up potential health and safety breaches
• failing to enforce the existing Method Statement to relation to ejection zones from the building
• instructing or permitting operatives to remove barriers to eject large items from the building
Rupert Lowe, prosecuting, said that James Stacey was operating a Bobcat skid steer loader on the fourth floor.
“There was a large square opening on the side of the fourth floor. He was using the Bobcat to eject a large piece of scrap from the building on to the ground below, on to the drop zone. He was trying to push a six-metre long fibreglass tank when there was a terrible accident.”
The jury was told that when the digger became attached to the scrap Stacey had no time to react and he and the machine were dragged out with it.
Members of his family were distressed as Lowe played the jury a computer generated image of the accident.
The court heard demolition firm Euro Dismantling Services Ltd has admitted the charge which Priestley denies.
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