Contractor fined £40,000 after teen labourer died on job from fall down ventilation shaft

The prosecution followed the fatal incident involving Renols Lleshi, a 19-year-old labourer from Ilford, who died at a development site on Mill Hill Road in July 2023.

Beyond the fine, the court directed the company to cover £5,000 in costs alongside a £2,000 surcharge.

The Health and Safety Executive conducted the investigation into the tragedy at the Ark Soane Academy site.

Mr Lleshi had been working to dismantle scaffolding on a roof garden situated on the 12th floor of a residential block when the accident occurred.

The young worker stepped onto a covering over a ventilation shaft, which collapsed beneath him, sending him falling six storeys to his death.

Investigators from the HSE discovered the shaft had been protected by nothing more than plasterboard and roofing foam.

The safety body revealed standard building inspections had failed to include the roof garden area, leaving the dangerous covering unidentified, meaning the scaffolding crew received no warning about the hazard.

He was employed by Embassy Site Services Ltd, a Purfleet-based company that had been subcontracted by Jerram Falkus Construction.

The tragedy has left Lleshi's family struggling to come to terms with their loss, as they acknowledged the work undertaken by the safety regulator in pursuing justice.

His father expressed the depth of their anguish, stating: "My family and I are devastated by the loss of Renols.

"To know that his death was caused by an accident which was entirely avoidable only makes our loss even harder to cope with.

"We are grateful to the Health and Safety Executive for their efforts to investigate the accident and prosecute one of those responsible for Renols's death".

However, he emphasised no legal outcome could ease their pain, saying: "Nothing anybody can do can bring our loved one back or lessen our grief in any way".

HSE inspector Natalie Prince highlighted the broader dangers facing workers in the construction industry.

She said: "Falls from height are one of the biggest causes of workplace fatalities and major injuries.

"This was a wholly avoidable incident that led to the death of a young man. My thoughts are with Renols's family and friends".

Jerram Falkus Construction entered administration in February, with FRP Advisory appointed to handle the process.

The administrator described the business as a "long-established, family-owned construction business operating across London and the South East".

The company had primarily served local authorities and housing associations, delivering both new-build and refurbishment schemes.

Its final audited accounts for the year ending July 31 2024 showed turnover of £47.6m and pre-tax profits of £37,000.

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