Project manager found guilty of manslaughter

Grant Prior 8 years ago
Share

A site manager has been found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence after a woman walking past a construction site died when three window frames weighing more than half a ton fell on her.

Lawyer Amanda Telfer was crushed to death by falling window frames
Lawyer Amanda Telfer was crushed to death by falling window frames

Lawyer, Amanda Telfer, 43, was crushed to death in August 2012 in Mayfair when the large unsecured frames toppled over.

Kelvin Adsett, 64, of Slough, Berkshire was convicted at the Old Bailey on Thursday of manslaughter by gross negligence and safety offences.

Adsett was the on-site project manager for IS Europe Ltd.

Damian Lakin-Hall, 50, of Cobham, Surrey was convicted of safety offences. He was acquitted of manslaughter.

IS Europe Ltd of Slough, Berkshire was convicted of safety offences.

The convictions follow an investigation by the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command with the assistance of the Health and Safety Executive.

Adsett and Lakin-Hall were bailed to appear at the same court for sentencing on 5 May.

Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Chalmers said: “The individuals and company who were convicted in this tragic case had a laissez-faire attitude to health and safety and did not take their 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 died four-and-a-half years ago and this has been an incredibly long and complex case to bring before the courts with many many hours of enquiries carried out by my team.

“Her death was completely avoidable and it is satisfying for all involved in this case – and especially Amanda’s family – that the jury have convicted these people and companies today.

“Prosecutions such as this are so important in enforcing adherence to health and safety laws. This tragic case proves just why employers and employees should take their obligations to safeguard workers and the public seriously.”

Telfer, a freelance intellectual property and media lawyer, was walking along the pavement past a construction site in Hanover Square, W1 when three large unglazed window frames, together weighing 655kg, fell on her.

She died at the scene from massive crush injuries.

The window frames – one around 3.2m square and two approximately 3.3m x 1.8m – had been delivered the previous day as scheduled but couldn’t be fitted immediately due to other delays on site.

They 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.

As Telfer walked past, it is believed a door in the building blew open in the wind, hitting the frames and causing them to topple.

A worker inside tried to grab them but they fell, crushing her underneath.

Lakin-Hall told officers at the scene the frames had been secured to the wall with a ratchet strap – evidence showed that had never been the case.

Barry and Ann Telfer, Amanda’s parents, said following the verdict:

“Amanda was a bright lovely professional woman living her life to the full and making plans for the future. Her future was taken from her when she was crushed to death by half ton window frames which took two seconds to fall on her.

“The frames had been left standing, almost vertically, at the side of a public pavement, unsecured to anything, unattended and with no safety barriers around them.

“If construction companies and the people who work for them are not held to account for such high levels of negligence and incompetence then none of us is safe walking the streets next to construction sites. The Health and Safety training being given is totally inadequate, if risk of death to passers-by is ignored.”

Latest news

Ardmore Construction Ltd falls into administration

Move isolates fire safety claims, leaving main Ardmore group free to grow profitability
2 days ago

Aston Villa gets go-ahead for £100m North Stand expansion

Project to modernise 1897-built ground ahead of EURO 2028
2 days ago

Quartet wins £1.75bn Midlands Rail Hub upgrade deal

VolkerRail, Laing O’Rourke, AtkinsRéalis and Siemens team up on Birmingham upgrade
2 days ago

McLaren confirmed for £250m Cardiff arena

Robertson Property secures planning green light for 16,500-capacity venue
3 days ago

John F Hunt starts work on £150m West End office revamp

Six month strip out deal at 125 Shaftesbury Avenue
2 days ago

Former Skanska vice president to join Galliford Try

Thomas Faulkner to head up specialist services division
2 days ago

Bowmer + Kirkland snaps up office fit-out firm Denton

Acquisition gives £40m turnover interiors specialist firepower to chase bigger jobs
3 days ago

Contractors sought for £667m Welsh Water mega project

Utility tests appetite for design, build and finance for twin water treatment jobs
3 days ago

Worker killed on Mace London site

Fatal accident on major site in Brent
3 days ago

Willmott Dixon veteran takes construction COO role

Former trainee Stewart Brundell promoted after nearly 40 years at the firm
3 days ago

BSR delays dent margins at OHOB despite record sales

Turnover up 18% to £369m as pre-tax profit nudges £22m
3 days ago

Plans go in for 30-storey Preston tower

£40m scheme will be tallest residential building in Lancashire
3 days ago

Former Laing O’Rourke leader to join Skanska

James Davies to oversee key defence and health projects
3 days ago

Green light for £10bn data hub prep works in Northumberland

Enabling works to roll out over 16 months on former Blyth Power Station site
4 days ago

VolkerWessels UK profits jump as rail and marine work surges

Infrastructure contractor posts £48m pre-tax profit and stronger order book
4 days ago

Groundworks boss wins payout over gagging order

Subcontractor raised fears over asbestos on housing sites
4 days ago

B+K to start £50m rebuild of Northumberland school

Cramlington Learning Village redevelopment contract signed off
4 days ago

New Homes Accelerator targets six new major sites

Construction to be sped-up on another 12,000 homes
4 days ago

Network Rail spend down as CP7 shift bites contractors

Firms warn of inflation squeeze and reprofiled workbanks
5 days ago

Wall of six towers planned for North London strip site

Hendon Goods Yard site plan for line of resi blocks rising to 29 storeys
5 days ago

SCF opens door to single stage tenders for first time

Gen-6 Southern Construction Framework to widen scope for smaller jobs
5 days ago

M&J Evans lifts profits as eastward regional push pays off

Groundworks specialist sharpens tender strike rate and grows pipeline to £504m
5 days ago

CHIC confirms 33 winners on £1bn housing framework

Equans, Guildmore, Seddon and Wates land spots on new four-year deal
5 days ago

Trade body joins attack on CITB over funding changes

Fit out specialists describe move as a "kick in the teeth"
5 days ago

Carey demolition cartel claim settled with developer

Legal action withdrawn after both sides agree settlement
1 week ago

Strabag seals financial close for £3bn HARP project

Work to start next year on North West's Haweswater aqueduct upgrade
1 week ago

Civils winners revealed for £12bn National Grid high voltage work

Contractor wins complete £59bn investment programme
1 week ago

Watch giant HS2 bridge move complete ahead of schedule

Video highlights engineering feat in Birmingham
1 week ago

Lee Marley posts record revenue despite project delays

Brickwork contractor weathers hiatus in high-rise starts to deliver fifth year of growth
1 week ago

Latest contract winners in military living revamp

First phase sites allocated under new approach to Single Living Accommodation
1 week ago