The company appeared before a Judge at Blackfriars Crown Court yesterday morning to plead guilty to two offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. In addition to the record breaking fine, Earl’s Court Ltd was also ordered to pay £70,000 to the Royal Borough in respect of its legal costs.
26-year-old Kevin O’Bryan fell 60 feet from the roof of the Exhibition Centre as he attempted to de-rig lighting equipment following a pop concert at the Centre. O’Bryan, who was employed as a lighting technician, had gained access without authorization to the highly dangerous roof void area that was under the control of Earl’s Court Ltd staff. He was working without supervision or a safety harness in breach of Earl’s Court’s own Code of Practice for roof and rigging.
Councillor Daniel Moylan, deputy leader and cabinet member for the Environment, told PLASA Media: "This was a truly awful accident made worse because it was so clearly preventable. It does not matter if they are using contractors and sub-contractors, companies must take responsibility for what goes on in their premises. I hope that this sentence gets the message across to all companies that the Council is serious about prosecuting those who do not adhere to the correct health and safety procedures at work."
(Ruth Rossington)
