Firm fined £200,000 after father and son died in site incident
28 Aug 2025
Mobile access hire company Adastra Access Ltd has been fined £200,000 plus costs after two workers died in a mast climber work platform (MCWP) collapse.
Father and son David Bottomley, 53, and 17-year-old Clayton Bottomley were working on the exterior façade at Unity Building in Liverpool.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said they were on the 21st floor, about 30 metres from ground level, when the MCWP failed and collapsed to the ground.
The watchdog added that witnesses reported hearing a loud whistling noise before seeing the platform “free fall to the ground at speed” in the incident on 19 May 2021.
David died at the scene from massive blunt force chest injuries. Clayton died three days later in hospital from multiple injuries sustained in the fall.
An HSE investigation found the MCWP supplied by Adastra Access had been at the site since 2019 and was not fitted with suitable safety-critical equipment required by British Standards.
The platform was manufactured by Wuxi Huake Heavy Machinery Company in China.
“The platform lacked an Electric Motor Overload System, which should alert users to motor failures requiring immediate investigation,” the HSE said.
“Examination of the drive units revealed failure of parts in each unit due to fatigue. Had the platform been equipped with proper safety systems, David and Clayton would have been alerted to the motor failure and the equipment taken out of service.
“The investigation also uncovered that certificates of conformity provided to Adastra Access Ltd were fraudulent. The company named on the certificate of conformity had not conducted any accreditation examinations, verifications, or testing of the MCWP.”
Adastra Access Ltd, of Middlemore Lane West, Aldridge, Walsall, was found guilty of breaching Section 6(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The company, which is now in liquidation, was fined £200,000 at Liverpool Magistrates Court on 27 August. It was also ordered to pay £14,886.01 in court costs and a victim’s surcharge of £2,000, the HSE said.
Our comments:
MCWPs are designed to safely lift workers, tools, and materials to height. Any failure of safety-critical systems—such as braking mechanisms, limit switches, overload sensors, or emergency descent systems—could lead to catastrophic accidents, including platform collapse or uncontrolled descent. Regular inspection and maintenance ensure that these systems function correctly, protecting workers, the public, and surrounding property.
Health and safety legislation requires employers and duty holders to provide safe equipment that is properly maintained. For example, regulations such as PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) and LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) place clear duties on maintaining lifting equipment. Failure to maintain MCWPs can result in legal action, fines, or enforcement notices.