Fatal accident at work - Crushed by glass

Two construction firms have been fined a total of £125,000 following the crush death of a worker.

Stephen Conlon, 30, died in hospital six weeks after a tonne of toughened glass toppled on to his legs during work to fit cladding to a building in Bishops Square, east London.

Colleagues took 20 minutes to free Dublin-born Mr Conlon, who lived in Haringey.

A court at the Old Bailey heard workers had raised concerns about the way glass was unloaded from crates using blocks at the site.

Judge Anthony Morris said: "The use of blocks created a substantial risk of death or serious injury."

Hartlepool-based Newnorth, the cladding firm Mr Conlon worked for, was fined £25,000 and ordered to pay £7,871 costs. Site subcontractor Permasteelisa was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay £31,487 costs.

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David Urpeth, a Partner at law firm Irwin Mitchell commented: An accident at work that results in a fatality is a tragedy for the individual and their family. Employers and others responsible for workers safety must ensure workers are provided with a safe place and a safe system of work. Sadly in this case, those responsible failed in their duty of care.

Anyone injured in a work accident or the relatives of anyone killed in such an accident should seek immediate legal advice.