Two Firms Convicted Over Fatal Fall of Window Pane at London Tower Block
Published on 08/07/2026 at 17:27 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
A jury at the Inner London Crown Court has found two companies guilty of health and safety breaches after a coach driver was killed by a falling window pane at a luxury residential development on the capital's Albert Embankment. The verdict, delivered on August 7, 2026, brings a long-running prosecution to a close and serves as a reminder to employers of their duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Fatal Incident at The Corniche
Mick Ferris, a 53-year-old coach driver, died instantly on October 2, 2018, when a 130-kilogram window pane fell roughly 300 feet (90 metres) from the 25th or 26th floor of The Corniche building. Investigators established that the outward-opening unit had had its restrictors removed before the fall.
After an 11-hour deliberation, the jury convicted St James Group Ltd and Lindner Prater Ltd of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The legislation requires employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of anyone affected by their undertakings — a duty that extends to the condition of plant and equipment on site.
This case is a stark reminder that even established companies can fall short of their legal duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Many UK employers unknowingly have gaps in their compliance documentation that could leave them exposed. A free toolkit provides 9 ready-to-use tools, including risk assessments, checklists and a directors' liability guide, to help you identify and close those gaps before an incident occurs. Download the free Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 Toolkit
Architectural firm Foster + Partners and facade consultancy Wintech were acquitted of all charges. Sentencing for the two convicted firms is scheduled for September 24, 2026.
Construction Sector Under Scrutiny
The verdict follows a series of recent judicial actions on workplace and site safety. On August 3, 2026, Lowndes Lumb Construction Ltd was fined £60,000 plus over £6,000 in costs after a worker suffered life-changing injuries falling through an unprotected roof light in Fulham in November 2023.
In a separate case, Lima Construction was fined £50,000 over the death of 55-year-old Antonio Rodrigues, who fell through an unglazed window opening on a scaffold in July 2022. The court highlighted a lack of adequate protection measures and breaches of construction regulations as key factors.
Fines like these highlight why thorough, up-to-date risk assessments are essential for protecting your workforce — and your bottom line. A free Risk Assessment Toolkit offers 41 ready-to-use templates and checklists covering fire safety, manual handling, first aid and lone working, so you can document hazards systematically and stay compliant. Download the free Risk Assessment Toolkit
International courts have also addressed similar liability issues in recent months. In late July 2026, a court in Fort Saskatchewan fined Brock Canada Field Services Ltd $132,000 after a worker fell into an open channel of hot water in August 2023. Earlier in the spring, the Port Authority reached a $10.5 million settlement in a lawsuit involving a motorist injured by falling debris on the George Washington Bridge in 2020.
European Courts Clarify Liability Boundaries
French administrative and high courts have this summer clarified the limits of liability in infrastructure and workplace cases. On July 8, 2026, the Administrative Court of Appeal in Bordeaux dismissed damages claims related to the high-speed rail line LGV SEA, ruling that only the concessionaire, Liséa, could be held liable — excluding the state and SNCF Réseau from accountability in those proceedings.
On the same date, the French Court of Cassation ruled that employees who suffer a workplace accident cannot pursue general law damages for a breach of the duty of care, reinforcing the specific legal frameworks governing industrial injury claims.
