Fall kills scaffolder just weeks before wedding

Grant Prior 7 years ago
Share

Two companies have been fined a total of £1.3m following the death of a scaffolder who was just weeks away from his wedding day.

John Altoft was hit by falling debris
John Altoft was hit by falling debris

The court was told John Altoft, 29, from Scunthorpe was killed when he fell to his death after being struck by falling debris inside an industrial tower.

On 18 January 2012, a team from Cape Industrial Services Ltd were installing an access scaffold to enable the relining of the inside of a steel plated tapered cylindrical structure at the Cemex Cement Works in Rugby.

Warwick Crown Court heard the team was working inside the Cyclone 1 tower when concrete debris dropped on to Altoft causing him to fall seven metres to the bottom of the structure causing fatal head injuries.

His colleague Ty Smart was also seriously injured, suffering serious wrist and arm fractures and has been unable to work since the incident.

Inspectors from the HSE told the court that both Cemex UK Operations Ltd and Cape Industrial Services Ltd Scaffolding should have co-ordinated and planned this high risk work to a higher standard.

Cemex UK Operations Limited, Coldharbour Lane, Surrey, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined £700,000 and was ordered to pay £90,783.78 in costs.

Cape Industrial Services Limited, Stockley Bridge, Uxbridge, Middlesex pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined £600,000 and ordered to pay £90,783.78 in costs.

HSE Inspector, Sue Thompson, said: “John Altoft should have been celebrating his wedding, but instead his family suffered a terrible loss.

“This was an entirely preventable incident and proper planning and protection from the foreseeable danger of falling material would have prevented this from happening.”

Michelle Altoft, John’s mum, said: “John was very loyal and hard working. He turned into the most handsome, caring young man, and I could not be more proud of him. He would help anyone and be there when you needed him.

“I have lost the most precious thing any mother could lose, and will never be replaced – my child.”

Carly Sargent, John’s fiancé, said: “Even now, two years on I still miss John. Mine and John’s life together was taken away from us. We grew up together. He worked hard all his life with the intention of becoming my husband and having a family. This is all he wanted. We both wanted the same things.”

Latest news

£500m southern highways framework up for renewal

Ten firms face fight to retain places on major councils roads framework
2 hours ago

Engineering losses halve Briggs & Forrester profit

Main engineering services arm suffers £1.6m loss
3 hours ago

Plans in for University of East London campus expansion

Work to start in early 2024 on 280,000 sq ft Stratford teaching and student rooms scheme
3 hours ago

CITB told to improve by Ofsted inspectors

Number of in-house apprentices drops as training body changes business model
11 hours ago

IHP wins £100m Derbyshire mental health projects

Vinci/McAlpine JV will build two 54-bed Adult Acute Care units
1 hour ago

Align hits key milestone on HS2 Colne Valley viaduct

Engineers rise to the challenge to complete first V-piers in lakes
3 hours ago

£9.3bn race starts for National Grid construction partners

Plan for Great Grid Upgrade Partnership to be set out at bidders day in early June
1 day ago

Plan approved to redevelop major Glasgow shopping mall

Outline plan backed for demolition of St Enoch centre for over 900 homes, shops and leisure space
1 day ago

Banned demolition boss wins appeal to remain a director

Paul Cluskey wins Court appeal to remain director of Cantillon but steps down as MD
2 days ago

B&K confirms £140m Leeds build to rent project

Work to start on Whitehall Riverside twin blocks for client Glenbrook
2 days ago

McLaren Property to revamp Liverpool roller skating site

242-bed student scheme unveiled for sensitive site
1 day ago

Wates names Midlands construction chief

Matt Johnson promoted after just 10 months at family-owned builder
2 days ago

Glencar lands £28m Peel Ports Liverpool shed job

240,000 sq ft Alexandra Docks warehouse will be five football pitches long
2 days ago

Private equity giant buys United Living

US based investment group Apollo makes latest swoop on UK construction market
2 days ago

Quartet secure Thirteen Group £500m new homes deal

Esh, Morris & Spottiswood, ReGen and Henry Boot secure spots on new build framework
2 days ago

Luton Town FC to start new stadium before end of 2023

Talks already underway with contractors ahead of submission for detailed planning this summer
2 days ago

Plans for renovation of historic Cardiff Market

Subject to planning and final funding work could start next year
2 days ago

£53m race to cut Magnox reactor buildings down to size

Trawsfynydd reactor buildings to be reduced in height by a third
2 days ago

Cyclist dies in lorry collision outside Keltbray site

Work shut down after fatal collision with truck delivering to central London site
6 days ago

Another demolition director banned after bid rigging probe

Brown and Mason boss becomes fourth director disqualified after cartel investigation
6 days ago

Five hospitals at risk of collapse added to new build programme

Weak concrete crisis and soaring costs force £20bn hospital programme rethink
7 days ago

Scottish South West Hub names new partners

Balfour Beatty joins construction partners for first time
6 days ago

RC frame specialist Getjar revenue tops £100m again

Profit margins nearly halved in face of labour and material price rises
6 days ago

London’s Camden Council advances £470m King’s Cross scheme

Camley Street scheme to consist of 350 homes and 200,000 sq ft of offices
6 days ago

Vinci issues fraud alert to suppliers

Subcontractors targeted by scammers posing as main contractor
7 days ago

Solar panels set to cover commercial buildings

Latest government taskforce targets power potential of non-residential roofs
6 days ago

Quantum Construction collapse costs suppliers £4.3m

Liquidator reveals scale of debts at Staffordshire contractor
1 week ago

Jaguar Land Rover set to build huge gigafactory in Somerset

The vast battery plant would be one of the biggest buildings in the UK
1 week ago

Tender race starts for £95m Victoria Tower repair job

Up to five firms will be invited to bid with work set to start by end of next year
1 week ago

Go-ahead for Brum iconic curved truss HS2 bridge

Balfour Beatty Vinci will carry out one of the largest bridge launches in the UK
1 week ago

Contractor services