Company fined more than £2m over drowning death

Knostrop Weir was constructed as part of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme

A construction company has been fined more than £2m after a worker drowned while working on a flood defence project in Leeds.

Gary Webster, 60, was one of two men on a boat trying to retrieve a gas canister from the bottom of weir gates at Knostrop Weir on the River Aire when the boat capsized.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said he was rescued by a diver after almost 15 minutes and was taken to hospital but died two days later, on 1 November 2017. His colleague managed to swim to safety.

Employer BAM Nuttall Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined £2,345,000 at Leeds Magistrates' Court.

'Failed to plan'

The company, based in Camberley, Surrey, was also ordered to pay £25,770 in costs during the hearing on Wednesday.

Concerns had been raised by Kevin McLoughlin, senior coroner for West Yorkshire (East).

He had recorded Mr Webster's cause of death as from cardiac arrest, multiple organ failure and cold water immersion - noting that there was a risk of further deaths unless the company took preventative action.

An HSE investigation found BAM Nuttall Ltd could have slowed down the flow of the water at the weir by using the gates, but failed to do so.

It said the company had several operatives who were trained and authorised to control the weir gates, which would have allowed the debris to float away or be reached safely by boat.

HSE inspector Jayne Towey said BAM Nuttall Ltd failed to plan the work or to carry out any assessment of the risks involved.

“This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices,” she said.

'Deep regret'

A spokesperson for BAM Nuttall apologised to Mr Webster's family.

They said: “We deeply regret that failures in our safety management allowed this incident to occur.

“Everyone should go home safe at the end of a day’s work. The fact Gary did not is a matter of solemn reflection.

“Safety remains our number one priority as a business.

“We have always held our hands up in relation to the events at Knostrop Weir and said we could have, and should have, done more to protect Gary.”

They added: “Whilst we cannot turn back the clock, we commit to doing our best to stop any similar incident happening in the future at any site we control.”

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