Construction director jailed after trench collapse killed worker
Summary
A construction director has been jailed for more than eight years after pleading guilty to gross negligence manslaughter following a fatal trench collapse during renovation work on a house in Suffolk. The case involved failures to support the excavation, protect nearby structures and fence off the trench, with the HSE and police concluding that the incident was preventable with proper planning and control measures.
Why it matters
Residential surveyors may encounter excavation and foundation-related risks during inspections, extensions and renovation projects, particularly where work is taking place close to existing structures. The case reinforces the importance of identifying unsafe site conditions, understanding the implications for structural stability and escalating obvious health and safety concerns.
Key points
- Worker died when a trench collapsed during house renovation work in Woodbridge, Suffolk.
- Police and HSE found inadequate or absent support to the trench sides and no fencing around the excavation.
- The trench was dug close to a conservatory, creating a risk of undermining its foundations.
- The director was jailed for 8 years and 10 months and banned from acting as a company director for 10 years.
- HSE stressed that collapses in excavations are preventable with proper planning and control measures.
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