18-year-old apprentice fatally crushed at a renovation site
Tuesday 14th July 2026
A property management company has been fined, and its director handed a suspended sentence following a tragic incident resulting in an 18-year-old apprentice being crushed to death whilst working at a property.
The property was being renovated when a pile of board material fell, fatally crushing the apprentice who was working alone at the time of the incident. 28 boards, potentially weighing 30kg each, were stacked vertically against a wall but were not secured.
The HSE found that the company had failed to provide safe systems of work, adequate supervision, and that its director had been neglectful. The company also failed to have both an adequate lone working policy and/or suitable risk assessment in place.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £10,080 in costs.
The director pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was sentenced to 26 weeks imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to pay £7,886 in costs.