Worker fell to his death from church steeple

A restoration company has been fined £60,000 after a worker fell from a church steeple in Birmingham.

David Clover, a 64-year-old steeplejack employed by Ecclesiastical Steeplejacks Ltd, was working on St Nicholas’ Church in Kings Norton in November 2020. While suspended in a 'bosun's chair' from the 60-metre-tall steeple of the Grade 1 listed building, he fell and sustained fatal injuries.

An investigation conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that the bosun's chair lacked an adequate backup system to prevent falls, such as a double or twin leg lanyard fall arrest harness.

Falls from height are a leading cause of fatalities and serious injuries, with 50 individuals losing their lives from such incidents in 2023/24.

Ecclesiastical Steeplejacks Ltd, which has ceased operations since the incident,  admitted violating Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 at a sentencing hearing last month.

Birmingham Magistrates’ Court was told that Mr Clover was seated in a 'bosun’s chair' – a designated work positioning seat – when he fell. In his sentencing remarks, Judge Quereshi noted that the company exhibited outdated views regarding the management of health and safety.