Personal Injury Solicitors

The Health and Safety Executive has prosecuted two companies after a scaffolder was killed just weeks away from his wedding day.

On 18 January, 2012, John Altoft, 29, from Scunthorpe was killed when he fell to his death after being struck by falling debris inside an industrial tower.

On the day of his death, a team from Cape Industrial Services Ltd was installing an access scaffold to enable the relining of the inside of a steel-plated tapered cylindrical structure at the Cemex Cement Works in Rugby.

Warwick Crown Court heard the team was working inside the Cyclone 1 tower when concrete debris dropped on John Altoft, causing him to fall seven metres to the bottom of the structure, resulting in fatal head injuries.

His colleague Ty Smart was also seriously injured, suffering serious wrist and arm fractures and has been unable to work since the incident.

Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told the court that both Cemex UK Operations Ltd and Cape Industrial Services Ltd Scaffolding should have co-ordinated and planned the high-risk work to a higher standard.

Cemex UK Operations Limited of Coldharbour Lane in Surrey pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act – and was fined £700,000 and was ordered to pay £90,783.78 in costs.

Cape Industrial Services Limited of Stockley Bridge, Uxbridge in Middlesex pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act –
and was fined £600,000 was ordered to pay £90,783.78 in costs.

After sentencing, HSE Inspector, Sue Thompson, said:

“John Altoft should have been celebrating his wedding, but instead his family suffered a terrible loss.

“This was an entirely preventable incident and proper planning and protection from the foreseeable danger of falling material would have prevented this from happening.”

Mr Altoft’s mother, Michelle, said:

“John was very loyal and hard working. He turned into the most handsome, caring young man – and I could not be more proud of him. He would help anyone and be there when you needed him.

“I have lost the most precious thing any mother could lose and will never be replaced – my child.”

Mr Altoft’s fiancée, Carly Sargent, added:

“Even now, two years on, I still miss John. Mine and John’s life together was taken away from us. We grew up together. He worked hard all his life with the intention of becoming my husband and having a family. This is all he wanted. We both wanted the same things.”

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no fee Fatal Injury Claims

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise bereaved families whose loved one has lost their life in an accident caused by negligence on how to make a no win no fee claim for compensation including claims involving:

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For expert legal advice on no win no fee Fatal Injury Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 0333 772 0409.