Falkirk builder guilty of manslaughter over Maddiston roofer's death

Hours before Scott Harrower suffered fatal injuries at work in a 25ft fall, another worker had tumbled from the roof and suffered life-changing injuries.

The death of Scott Harrower, 42, was the second serious workplace accident to occur on January 22, 2014, at the former Carpet Right building in Heaton Norris, Stockport in England.

Now Allan Thomson, 52, the Falkirk-based boss of Building and Dismantling Contractors Ltd, has been found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter in a Manchester Crown Court trial.

In the same hearing, Michael Smith, 52, boss of Rochdale’s C Smith and Sons, has been found guilty of failing to ensure the safety of persons not in its employment, failing to ensure work is planned regulated and monitored in a way which ensures it is carried out without risks to safety and failing to ensure work at height is properly planned, adequately supervised and safely carried out.

Both men had denied the charges.

The court heard that C Smith and Sons won the contract to demolish the building, and as the ‘principal contractor’ drew up health and safety documents.

But just days before the work was due to commence, Mr Thomson’s firm was instead sub-contracted to dismantle the building and sell on the parts. Mr Thomson hired Mr Harrower and three other men, who travelled from Falkirk to Stockport to do the work.

Opening the case, prosecutor Andrew Thomas QC said the safety equipment provided to the men was ‘worse than useless’ and the incident was a ‘clear case of an employer putting profit before safety’.

The pair have been bailed and are expected to be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on April 8.