A lift operating company has been fined £400,000 at Southampton Crown Court after pleading guilty to a major breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Otis Investments and Otis Limited (formally Otis Plc and Express Lifts Company Limited) were prosecuted as a single company, Otis, by the Health and Safety Executive after two young workers were killed when they fell down a lift shaft of Shirley Towers, a high rise block of flats in Southampton. The incident occurred in the early hours of 4 February 2001, when they fell against the lift doors which swung open like a giant cat flap due to inadequate fixings on the lower rail of the opening. Both men plunged about 30 metres and died instantly.
Speaking after the case, Antony Thompson, HM Specialist Inspector of Health and Safety said the tragic deaths were "a reminder for all those with responsibility for lifts that they should be properly maintained so they are safe and do not put people at risk." Costs of £145,000 were also awarded against the defence.
