Michael Smith of C Smith and Sons to go on trial following death of worker

Michael Smith (03/11/1963), of Lightowlers Lane, Littleborough and his company C. Smith and Sons (Littleborough) Ltd have been charged with breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act and will go on trial on 11 January 2016.

Smith will go on trial alongside Allan Thompson (20/08/1963) of Woodburn Crescent, Falkirk and his company Building and Dismantling Contractors Ltd who are charged with gross negligence manslaughter and breaching Health and Safety at Work regulations.

The charges follow the death of 45-year old Scott Harrowers who suffered fatal head injuries after falling from a roof at a site in Heaton Norris, Stockport.

At 3.55pm on Tuesday 21 January 2014, police were called to Manchester Road, Heaton Norris after a 42-year-old man fell from a roof. Mr Harrowers sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital where he died.

This was the second fall to occur on that day.

At 9.15am on that same day, police were called following reports that a 45-year-old work man had fallen from a roof. Officers attended and he was taken to hospital suffering serious injuries.

A trial date was set at a Manchester Crown Court hearing and it is expected the case will run for up to three weeks.

Thompson did not appear in court due to difficulties in getting to Manchester from Aberdeen but is expected to enter pleas to the charges on 26 May.

A joint police and Health and Safety Executive investigation was launched following the incident and the accused were charged two weeks ago.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/newsheadlines/85039/worker-dies-after-roof-fall