Contractor jailed over trench death

Contractor jailed over trench death

A self-employed contractor has been jailed after an employee was killed when the trench he was working in collapsed. William Ryan Evans was contracted to construct a drainage field comprised of infiltration pipes laid at the bottom of deep trenches. He employed two workers and a subcontractor excavator to undertake the work at Longstone Farm, in Pembrokeshire. Hywel Glyndwr Richards, 54, entered the trench to remove a clump of soil that had fallen in. However the trench collapsed, burying him. He died at the scene. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 26 June 2012 found the work was not planned appropriately and the risk assessment was poor. The workers were not appropriately trained and suitable equipment to a prevent collapse was not provided. William Ryan was found guilty at Swansea Crown Court of a criminal safety breach and given a six month custodial sentence. HSE inspector Phil Nicolle said: “This tragic incident could have been prevented by undertaking a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks, providing the correct equipment or safe working methods to the workers and managing and monitoring the work to ensure it was done safely.” In a statement, Hywel Richards’ family said: “Dad was an integral part of our family, the glue that kept us all together. Our family was devastated by his sudden death.” It added: ““Family gatherings and celebrations, once joyous occasions, are now ruined because dad is not there. Today, and for the rest of our lives, we are mourning the loss of dad, our best friend, our confidant and protector. Quite simply, he has left a space that will never be filled. We hope that lessons will be learned from dad’s death.”

• HSE news release and excavation webpages.