Firm fined after worker killed by collapsing block wall

A construction company has been fined following the death of an employee crushed by a 1.8 m high retaining wall built from concrete blocks.

Gary Anstey, 57, from Bristol, was working for H. Mealing & Sons at Swainswick School in Bath when the wall collapsed on 19 March 2019. An HSE investigation found the company had failed to properly plan and supervise the work. The block wall was incomplete and not designed to take loading, yet a large quantity of aggregate was placed against it, causing it to give way.

The court heard that no temporary works design or supervision was in place to ensure the wall remained stable. HSE guidance requires all temporary structures to be designed and installed to withstand expected loads, with written plans and trained operatives in place.

H. Mealing & Sons pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £56,775 and ordered to pay £44,000 in costs at Taunton Magistrates’ Court on 11 September 2025.

HSE inspector Ian Whittles said: “This was a horrific incident which had heartbreaking consequences. It happened because of a lack of planning and coordination, which is all too common in construction activity. With simple clear procedures and appropriate training this incident would not have happened.”

Mr Anstey’s wife Anne said the family has been left to live with milestones he never got to share, including the birth of his first grandchild.

The case highlights the risks of using incomplete or unreinforced blockwork to retain loads, and the importance of proper temporary works design on concrete-related projects.