SCS: Worker’s death happened in ‘something of a blind spot’ 

Company ordered to pay £200K after admitting health and safety breach 

A construction company on the Isle of Man – which has been fined following the death of one of its employees - says it does treat health and safety issues with ‘utmost importance’.

Stewart Clague Services was sentenced at Douglas Courthouse yesterday (27 February) after admitting failing to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of employees in August 2020.

Fifty-six-year-old Gary Skelding was killed at King William’s College after non-loadbearing scaffolding collapsed whilst he was on it.

His site foreman, Stephen Phillips, was handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence after being convicted after trial of failing to take reasonable care of the health of safety of himself and others.

The court heard SCS had not followed industry standards and had not carried out routine inspections of the scaffolding; risk assessments were also missed.

Almost all employees who were working on the site had out-of-date training with Deemster Sandeep Kainth adding: “Mr Phillips was left to run the site without appropriate training and support.”

Addressing the court SCS’ advocate said the incident was a ‘tragedy’ but the company was not ‘cavalier’ adding that Mr Skelling's death had a ‘huge impact’ on the company and wider workforce.

He explained that Mr Skelding’s death had happened in ‘something of a blind spot’ for SCS following the resignation of a previous health and safety manager and a delay in the recruitment of another.

He also highlighted how new digital risk assessments have since been introduced by the company adding: “An accident like this can never happen again on its watch.”

Instructing the company, which recorded a turnover of more than £9 million in 2021, to pay a £200,000 fine Deemster Kainth ordered the penalty to be paid within three months.

SCS must also pay £125 in prosecution costs.