Company and director fined after worker falls to death from statue

Date:

24 March 2010

Release No:

HSE/NW/037TaylorElectronics

A neon-sign manufacturer and its director have been fined a total of £12,000 after a worker was killed when he fell from the city's Albert Memorial statue.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Taylor Electronics (Manchester) Ltd and its Wigan-based director, John Taylor, following the incident.

The overturned cherry picker which caused Ian Gutteridge to fall to his death

Ian Gutteridge was fitting a giant necklace to the 140-year-old statue when the cherry picker he was working on overturned. An investigation by HSE showed that the cherry picker had not been properly stabilised before being used.

Mr Gutteridge suffered head and chest injuries in the fall on 4 April 2007. He did not regain consciousness and died in hospital the next day. A photographer, who was also on the platform, was knocked unconscious but made a full recovery.

Manchester Crown Court heard that Taylor Electronics had agreed to fit the necklace - a giant glowing cross - to the statue in Albert Square to promote a jewellery exhibition in Manchester Town Hall.

HSE Inspector Sandra Tomlinson said:

"Mr Gutteridge's death has had a devastating impact on his family, and it could easily have been prevented by properly stabilising the cherry picker.

"Taylor Electronics agreed to carry out an unusual job to help publicise the jewellery exhibition, but it then took unacceptable risks to achieve it. Mr Gutteridge would still be alive today if the correct safety procedures had been followed."

Taylor Electronics and John Taylor each pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of workers.

Taylor Electronics, of Chester Road in Manchester, was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,000. John Taylor, of Greenfield Road in Atherton, was fined £2,000.

Sandra Tomlinson added:

"Only one of the four legs on the cherry picker vehicle had been fully extended, which made it dangerously unstable. I hope this tragic case will highlight how important it is for companies to treat health and safety seriously."

Last year, more than 4,000 employees suffered a major injury as a result of a fall from height at work and 15 were killed. For more information on HSE's shattered lives campaign go to www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives.

Notes to editors

1. Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."

Press enquiries

Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.

Issued on behalf of HSE by COI News and PR North West