School fined GBP 25k after death of man

06/09/2010

A boarding school in Shropshire has been fined GBP 25,000 after a man died while completing demolition work at the site.

Mark Evans, aged 40, of Ludlow suffocated when the 2.4-tonne roof of a large wooden classroom fell on top of him and colleagues on August 14th 2007.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the workers, who were employed by Moor Park Charitable Trust Ltd which runs Moor Park School, had no effective plan in place for demolishing the classroom.

They removed integral supports within the classroom's structure which caused the roof to collapse.

"Mr Evans paid the ultimate price for the school's failings," said HSE inspector Nic Rigby.

Last month, a building firm that exposed its staff to asbestos at a school in Rugby was fined GBP 1,000.

Greswolde Construction Ltd of Station Road, Knowle, could find itself having to pay out even more in compensation if its employees develop health problems related to the work they did on the school.

Posted by Wayne Weir

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