School trust fined over death of Shropshire worker

A charitable trust which runs a Shropshire school has been fined £25,000 after a 40-year-old builder died when the roof of a classroom collapsed on him during demolition work.

Mark Evans, of Normandie Close, Ludlow, died when the timber building at Moor Park School, Richards Castle, collapsed on him in August 2007, as he and other builders were helping to demolish it.

Moor Park Charitable Trust, which admitted contravening a health and safety regulation, was fined £25,000 and ordered to pay £15,000 costs at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday.

The court was told the trust failed to ensure the safety of five building contractors engaged in the demolition by failing to ensure their competence.

Judge Robin Onions was told Stephen Treasure, a member of the trust's committee, recommended a construction worker, named in court as Christopher Morris, for the demolition work but that the trust never checked whether he was qualified or competent to carry it out.

The court heard there was no criticism of Mr Morris as a construction worker.

Mr Morris had carried out work to demolish other classrooms at the site previously but was unaware the trust believed he was in charge of this project, the court was told.

No charges are to be brought against Mr Morris.

Mr James Puzey, prosecuting on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive, said the trust had not taken any steps to look at its duties under the Construction Design and Management Regulations, which states that groups employing people for work much satisfy themselves that businesses they engage are competent.