A construction company has been found guilty of corporate manslaughter after a worker was crushed to death when a two-ton block of limestone fell on him.
The jury at Oxford Crown Court heard how on 9 February 2010, David Evans, an employee of Cavendish Masonry Limited, was building a large wall at the Well Barn Estate in Moulsford, Wallington. A two-ton limestone block fell off a concrete lintel and crushed him.
Following the verdict, Health and Safety Executive inspector Peter Snelgrove said: “David Evan’s tragic death was completely avoidable had Cavendish Masonry properly planned and managed the installation of the heavy limestone.”
Mr Evans, of Overdown Road, was airlifted to the John Radcliffe Hospital and was pronounced dead later the same day.
Cavendish Masonry admitted to failing to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of their employees.
Mr Snelgrove commented: “The lift itself was relatively straightforward and there is no blame on the part of the crane operator who put the stone in place. The stone toppled because its shape was such that it was potentially unstable when free standing, yet nothing was used to fix it in place. It needed to be sufficiently restrained before the lifting slings attaching it to the crane were removed.
“The drawings for the work were wholly insufficient, and the overall execution of the project fell significantly below the standard required and expected of a competent masonry company.”
Cavendish Masonry were found guilty by jury of corporate manslaughter, having pleaded guilty to an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
The construction company is due to be sentenced on Thursday, July 3rd.
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