Builder jailed for 3 years for manslaughter

Contract Journal is reporting that the builder, Colin Holtom, who was facing jail after a 15-year old unskilled worked died has been found guilty of manslaughter. The journal reports:

On 23 April, 2007, Adam and his older brother were both working at the site. After completing some other work, Holtom told them they would now be demolishing the wall. There was no proper discussion or instruction on how the wall was to be removed before work started and Adam and his brother began demolition with no supervision.

The wall suddenly began to lean in the direction of a neighbour's garden. Adam went to speak to Holtom who apparently told them to get into the neighbour's garden and push the wall back.

As Adam did so, the wall fell towards him. His brother shouted for him to move out of the way but the wall fell, hitting a concrete garage. He called out again to Adam but there was no response. Adam had suffered a major head injury after becoming trapped against the garage.

Police, paramedics, HEMS air ambulance and the London Fire Brigade attended the scene. The emergency services managed to free Adam but he was confirmed dead at the scene.

Simon Hester, investigating inspector from the Health and Safety Executive said:

There was a complete disregard for basic health and safety requirements – inadequate personal protective equipment, no risk assessments, no training and minimal supervision. There were no welfare facilities on site and the workers were not even covered by Employees Liability Insurance.

Mr Holtom now faces 3 years in jail.

The Universal Language of Demolition

Those of you who receive PDi magazine may have noticed our own John Woodward getting a two-page spread (fully clothed I assure you) in the May-June issue.

The piece covers John's entry into the demolition world, his online presence through this site, and his popular Twitter feed among other things and is well worth a read.

PDi has been kind enough to allow us to share the article with you in case you missed the print edition. You can download both pages from the following links:

Page 1
Page 2

IDE Seminar 25th September

On 25 September, the IDE will gather for its next seminar at One Great George Street in London.

We've managed to put together an excellent international programme that includes presentations from:

* Ruud Schreijer of Ruusch, creator of the world’s largest ever high reach machine.

* Rainer Cremer is from Germany who will look at chimney demolition by robotic machines.

* Dick Green is making a welcome return to talk about demolition by explosives in India.

* Stuart Marchand of Wentworth House Partnership discussing demolition from a structural engineer’s viewpoint.

* Peter Jones offers and alternative viewpoint on the disposal of composite panels

If you would like to attend tickets are available now by visiting www.ide.org.uk

Builder facing jail after demolition work using unskilled labour goes tragically wrong

Wolverhampton Express and Star are reporting that a builder is facing jail today after admitting the manslaughter of a 15 year old labourer, killed whilst demolishing a 23ft high wall by hand in London.

Adam Gosling was killed instantly from head injuries when the wall fell on top of him during the demolition work.

His boss Colin Holtom, 64, of Latchington, Essex pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey this week to Adam’s manslaughter on the grounds of gross negligence.

He was remanded on bail until Monday when he will be sentenced with contractor Darren Fowler, 46, of Upminster, Essex. Fowler pleaded guilty in April to breaching health & safety law.

Judge Christopher Moss warned Holtom: “Having given you bail, it does not rule out a custodial sentence”.

Holtom had denied the offence but changed his plea this week when a retrial was about to begin. The court was told that Adam and his 18 year old brother Dean had been left unsupervised to demolish the 23ft high wall and had received no demolition training prior to commencing the work.

Mr Martyn Bowyer, prosecuting, said Adam was earning £25 a day as a labourer but should never have been allowed to carry out such work, and Holtom had failed to provide safety equipment such as hard hats.

We, at C&D, feel that this tragic loss of a young life is regrettable but could have been prevented by use of trained, experienced, competent demolition labour rather than a young unskilled labourer starting out on his career.

The lesson in this case is, once again, demolition can be fatal if not treated with respect.