15.01.2004

HSE begins investigation into Wembley Stadium fatality

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has begun an investigation into the death of a construction worker who was fatally injured, while another received serious injuries, after being struck by falling debris at the new Wembley Stadium project earlier today.

The HSE was called to the project site following the accident, which happened early this morning, where a HSE spokesperson issued this statement:

"At around 8.40 this morning, an accident occurred at the Wembley Stadium construction site. The accident involved two workers of PC Harrington Ltd, one of whom was fatally injured, while the other received serious injuries which are not thought to be life threatening.

"The accident occurred when a large platform was dislodged during lifting operations. The platform fell around 100 feet (30 metres) onto the two workers. The work did not involve lifting the main arch.

"The site has been closed following the accident and an investigation is now underway involving both police and HSE. Multiplex and PC Harrngton are cooperating fully with the investigation."

George Brumwell, general secretary of the construction workers' union UCATT commented on the death see separate report Vertikal.Net He said ‘The death of a construction worker at Wembley and the injuries suffered by one of his workmates is terrible news.

Our thoughts are very much with their families. The numbers of fatalities and serious accidents are rising alarmingly. The carnage has to stop. ‘We suffered a double whammy today, however,' Brumwell added. ‘We have been working very hard indeed to make the New Wembley stadium a very safe site, yet we had this tragedy today.

Unconfirmed reports from the site this morning claimed that the platform had been struck by the load of a tower crane which dislodged the scaffold platform from its fixed location, sending it to the ground.