![Tom Neate sustained fatal head injuries from a fall during a domestic demolition job in Staines [Photos from HSE]](https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/assets/news_articles/2026/02/1770045339_hse-glebe-road-demolition.jpeg)
Jason Hill had employed 19-year-old Thomas (Tom) Neate to lend a hand demolish a storage at a home assets on Glebe Street in Staines-upon-Thames, in preparation for development an extension.
On 16th August 2023, Neate, who used to be native to the world, used to be at the storage roof taking away tiles and different fabrics when he fell thru a gap and suffered critical head accidents. He used to be taken to health center however he died a number of weeks in a while 23rd September.
An investigation by means of the Well being & Protection Govt (HSE) discovered that Hill, 59, of Ashford in Middlesex, had put no measures in position to stop a fall from top, in spite of the transparent possibility. Paintings used to be being performed immediately from the roof without a scaffolding, decking or different protecting techniques to stop an individual falling thru or from the construction.
Right through the process the HSE investigation, different considerations had been recognized, together with unsafe mini-digger use and a failure to forestall individuals of the general public getting into the website, indicating broader failings in Hill’s method to managing website protection.
The investigation additionally discovered no evaluate to decide whether or not asbestos used to be provide. Corrugated concrete sheets that had been snapped and got rid of by means of hand had been later discovered to be produced from asbestos cement. There have been 3 different staff had been on website who had been susceptible to publicity to fibres because the sheets had been passed right down to them, in addition to the circle of relatives whose storage used to be being demolished.
Jason Hill, of Ashford, Middlesex, pleaded to blame to breaching Segment 3(2) of the Well being and Protection at Paintings and many others. Act 1974 at Staines Magistrates Court docket on 30th January 2026. He used to be in an instant jailed for a duration of three hundred and sixty five days. No prices had been awarded.
HSE inspector Jennifer Lester mentioned after the listening to: “Jason Hill’s failure to place in position fundamental protection measures has value a tender guy his existence. The truth he has been despatched to jail demonstrates simply how critically this has been taken.
“Running at top stays one of the crucial well known and demanding reasons of dying and damage in development, and easy, recognised precautions would have secure Thomas Neate from hurt.
“Even small contractors and people operating on home tasks have a felony accountability to make sure the protection of staff and individuals of the general public. Failing to take those precautions may have devasting penalties, as this tragic incident starkly demonstrates.”
Were given a tale? E-mail information@theconstructionindex.co.united kingdom
