STONEMASON PROSECUTED AFTER BOY, 4, DIES

A man building a wall A stonemason has been fined for safety failings after installing a stone fireplace that fell from the wall it was fixed to, killing a four year old boy. The stonemason, Kristian Childs, trading as KD Childs Stonework of Luton, was sub-contracted to install stone fireplaces in new homes, including one in Coulthard Close, Towcester, which was subsequently bought by the Green family who had two children. The accident happened in 2005 when the 47kg mantel came away from the wall and fell without warning onto the youngest child in the family. Despite all efforts, he died in hospital shortly after the incident. The HSE carried out an enquiry into the incident. They found that the stone fire surround had been attached to the wall with small patches of mortar, and had not been properly fixed to the wall with a mechanical fixing. The HSE brought a case against Mr Childs which was heard at Northampton Crown Court. At the hearing the court was told that Mr Childs knew about the insecure fixing as other householders had alerted him to the issue. He pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £7,500 with £2,500 costs. After the hearing Alan Craddock, Head of Operations for the HSE’s Midlands construction division said: "This was a tragic incident that devastated a young family, made so much worse by the fact it could have been so easily prevented. "Every stone used in a fireplace must have a mechanical fixing, such as a steel bracket and screws, to hold them together and against the wall. A few small patches of mortar are not acceptable because it cannot guarantee a secure bond.