Two firms fined £1.3m after man killed by falling window

Property developer St James Group Ltd has been fined £1m and facade contractor Lindner Prater £300,000 after a man was killed by a falling window. Mick Ferris, 53, died on 2 October 2018 when a 130kg window pane fell 26 storeys from the Corniche luxury development in Vauxhall. Both firms were ordered to pay £125,000 each in costs at Inner London crown court.

Foreseeable risks ignored

In August, the companies were convicted of ignoring “foreseeable risks” and failing to discharge a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Mr Ferris, a coach driver, was returning to his vehicle when the window panel, measuring approximately 85cm wide and 190cm tall, fell from about 90 metres. The court heard that a window panel had previously fallen from the same development in August 2017, but the design had not been significantly altered.

Mr Justice Boyle stated that while common industry designs were used, St James Group Ltd should have been more diligent in ensuring the safety component was present and engaged. The judge noted there was no Health and Safety Executive guidance prohibiting the window design itself.

James Goldfinch, HSE principal inspector, said Mr Ferris lost his life due to the failings of both companies. He added that lessons had not been learned from the near-miss incident the year before. A spokesperson for St James Group Ltd stated: “The death of Mick Ferris in 2018 was tragic. Our thoughts remain with his family and friends. We acknowledge the court’s sentencing decision and the fine imposed.”

What happens next

The fines and costs must be paid by the companies. The Health and Safety Executive will continue to monitor compliance with safety regulations across construction sites in London.