A specialist construction company has been fined £60,000 after a worker fell to his death from a church steeple in Birmingham.
The worker 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", which is a work positioning seat, when he fell, suffering fatal injuries.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identified 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 contravening the Work at Height Regulations SI 2005/735 and was fined £60,000.
In passing the sentence, Judge Quereshi found the company had outdated attitudes to managing health and safety.
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".
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