A specialist construction company has been fined £60,000 after a worker fell to his death from a church steeple in Birmingham.
David Clover was employed by Ecclesiastical Steeplejacks Ltd to carry out restoration work to St Nicholas’ Church in Kings Norton on 13 November 2020.
The 64-year-old steeplejack had been suspended from the 60 metre tall steeple of the Grade 1 listed building, sitting in a ‘bosun’s chair’ – a work positioning seat – when he fell, suffering fatal injuries.
An HSE investigation found that the bosun’s chair was not supported by a suitable backup system preventing falls, such as, a double or twin leg lanyard fall arrest harness.
Ecclesiastical Steeplejacks Ltd, which has ceased trading since the incident, pleaded guilty to safety breaches and was fined £60,000 at a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court.
In passing sentence, Judge Quereshi found the company had outdated attitudes to managing health and safety.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Emma Page said: “Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of work-related deaths and injury in Great Britain.
“We will take action against companies that fail to protect workers.
“Our thoughts remain with the family of David Clover.”