Wednesday January 22, 2025 Steeplejack dies after 60 metre church fall

Specialist contractor, which has ceased trading since accident, fined £60,000

A specialist construction company has been fined £60,000 after a worker fell to his death from a church steeple in Birmingham.

David Clover was employed by Ecclesiastical Steeplejacks Ltd to carry out restoration work to St Nicholas’ Church in Kings Norton on 13 November 2020.

The 64-year-old steeplejack had been suspended from the 60 metre tall steeple of the Grade 1 listed building, sitting in a ‘bosun’s chair’ – a work positioning seat – when he fell, suffering fatal injuries.

An HSE investigation found that the bosun’s chair was not supported by a suitable backup system preventing falls, such as, a double or twin leg lanyard fall arrest harness.

Ecclesiastical Steeplejacks Ltd, which has ceased trading since the incident, pleaded guilty to safety breaches and  was fined £60,000 at a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court.

In passing sentence, Judge Quereshi found the company had outdated attitudes to managing health and safety.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Emma Page said: “Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of work-related deaths and injury in Great Britain.

“We will take action against companies that fail to protect workers.

“Our thoughts remain with the family of David Clover.”