Company Director guilty of breaching health and safety regulations

05/04/2011

The Director of Southern Property Maintenance UK ltd has been found guilty of breaching regulations under the Health and Safety at Work Act at Lewes Crown Court today. He was found not guilty of manslaughter.

Shane Offer an employee of the company was undertaking roof repairs to retail premises in Bognor in June 2009 when he fell through a skylight. He later died from his injuries.

The prosecution case was that Richard James as sole Director of the company owed a duty of care to Mr Offer and breached that duty by failing to provide a safe system of work. Mr Offer had not been provided with adequate training and equipment to carry out the repairs and there were significant failings within the company to address the duty owed to people who may be affected by the work.

Crown Advocate Simon Ringrose said:

"Although Richard James has been found not guilty of manslaughter he and his company Southern Property Maintenance (UK) Ltd have been found guilty of serious failings in their duty of care towards Shane Offer. As a consequence of this Mr Offer tragically lost his life.

"The Crown Prosecution Service worked closely with the Police and the Health and Safety Executive throughout this case.

"My sympathies are with Mr Offers family and friends and I hope that the conviction of Mr James and his company Southern Property Maintenance (UK) Ltd will bring them some comfort."

Richard James will be sentenced on the 5th May at Lewes Crown Court.