The owner of A&E Buildings has been found guilty of the manslaughter of an employee who fell to his death from improvised equipment while constructing a steel-framed barn on a river in Kinver, South Staffordshire. The incident occurred on Saturday 28 February 2004, where two workmen were installing a barn roof at roof height from an improvised basket, balanced on the forks of a telehandler. The telehandler tipped over, throwing both men 8 metres to the ground. One man suffered serious injuries and the other died. Both the basket and the telehandler belonged to the owner, who was responsible for managing the project.
He also pleaded guilty to breaching both the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations SI 1998/2306, and received an 18 month custodial sentence.
