Eight month custodial sentence after fire killed two brothers

The owner and director of Clearview Design and Construction Ltd, Mr Simon Thomerson, has received a custodial sentence after a fire killed two of his employees and injured another employee.

On 3 October 2015, several employees were refurbishing several units on an industrial park in Hertfordshire when there was an explosive fire which killed the two employees, who were brothers, and caused another employee to suffer severe burns.

An investigation was undertaken by Hertfordshire Constabulary and the Health and Safety Executive following the workplace accident. They discovered that Mr Thomerson had provided highly flammable “thinners” to remove carpet tile adhesive from the floor.

The investigation found that Mr Thomerson had failed to assess the risks of the substance despite there being obvious warnings on the containers, and he had not sufficiently controlled the working environment to avoid the risk of a fire.

Mr Thomerson pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was sentenced by Luton Crown Court to eight months in custody and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £170.

If you should have any questions about your legal obligations in relation to Health and Safety in the workplace and need a specialist health and safety solicitor, call James Lowe, our Regulatory and Licensing Partner on 07833 240 400 for advice and assistance.