NEWS IN THE COURTS


FARMER JAILED AFTER THREE- YEAR-OLD CHILD KILLED BY VEHICLE


A farmer has been jailed after he failed to ensure the health and safety of his three-year-old son.


Albie Speakman lost his life on 16 July 2022 after he was run over by a telehandler that was being driven by his father Neil Speakman.


A joint investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Greater Manchester Police found Mr Speakman failed to ensure Albie was kept safe from work activities on his family’s farm in Bury, Greater Manchester. The telehandler being driven by Mr Speakman was in poor condition.


Children should be kept safe from farming work activities by keeping them in a safe area, such as a farmhouse or a securely fenced play area.


Mr Speakman, 39, was using the telehandler to move woodchip into bags while Albie was left playing in a small unfenced garden at the front of the house on Bentley Hall Farm.


The three-year-old wandered onto the farm yard and was fatally struck by the telehandler as it was being reversed.


HSE inspector Mike Lisle said: “This tragedy could easily have been avoided if our guidance was followed.


“Our guidance clearly states children should be kept away from farming activities and work traffic,


FINE FOR COMPANY AFTER WORKER FELL TO HIS DEATH FROM CHURCH STEEPLE


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 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.


10


remaining in a safe space, such as a securely fenced play area.


“Farms are workplaces, but often have a farm house within the grounds. This makes the provision of safe areas for children even more important.”


The HSE and Greater Manchester Police investigation identified that Mr Speakman failed to ensure there was a safe segregated area for Albie to play in so that he was kept safe from farm workplace activity. Instead, Albie was allowed to move around the farm yard while vehicles were being driven.


The investigation found Mr Speakman had borrowed the telehandler from a neighbour, and while he had previously used the vehicle, he was not appropriately trained and had not properly considered the risks involved with using it. The telehandler was missing a wing mirror on the passenger’s side, while the wing mirror on the driver’s side was dirty – reducing Mr Speakman’s visibility as he operated the vehicle.


Neil Speakman, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 after being charged by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).


He was handed a 12-month prison sentence and ordered to pay £2,000 in costs at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on 28 February 2025. Mr Speakman must serve at least six months in prison.


Following a trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, Mr Speakman was found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter in February 2025. This charge was brought by the CPS following a Greater Manchester Police investigation.


Ecclesiastical Steeplejacks Ltd, which has ceased trading since the incident, but was formerly of Maryvale Business Park, Maryvale Road Stirchley, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to contravening Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It was fined £60,000 at a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on 15 January 2025.


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.”


WWW.TOMORROWSHS.COM


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48