Firm Fined following Death of Maltby Man
Breaching Health and Safety Regulations
12/12/2007
E Pawson & Son Limited have appeared at Doncaster Crown Court today where they were fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5717 by Her Honour Judge Davies after pleading guilty to breaching health and safety regulations following the death of John Cavill.
SDS Security Services, who Mr Cavill worked for as a security guard at the time of the incident pleaded guilty to similar charges earlier this year at Doncaster Magistrates Court and were fined £2,500, but the case against E Pawson & Son Limited was referred to the Crown Court.
An Inquest Jury last year found that the 54 year old died as a result of an accident after a metal security gate fell on top of him.
John Cavill from Maltby, South Yorkshire was discovered trapped beneath a security gate on September 4, 2005 at the premises of E Pawson & Son Limited, Braithwell, Doncaster where he was working.
He had been closing the gate when it fell from its tracks onto him. He died almost instantly according to the pathologist Dr Verghese. Evidence given at the inquest found that safety bolts which would have prevented the gate falling had not been fitted.
His distressed family, including his wife Maureen Cavill heard evidence that Mr Cavill's body had lain undiscovered for over 10 hours.
The family's Solicitor, Louise Morgan, from the Sheffield Office of National Law Firm, Irwin Mitchell, said: "Mrs Cavill is relieved that the criminal proceedings have now come to an end but feels that the fine can not change her family's circumstances.
"It is hoped that all those responsible for workplaces will act following this case to ensure that safety mechanisms are fitted to security gates and doors so that they cannot fall from their tracks. In this instance the company was fined for breaches of health and safety legislation which had such tragic consequences.
"Following the case Mr Cavill's family have stated that they do not want any other family to suffer bereavement in the tragic way that they have."