Friday, May 16, 2008
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STRETCHING LED TO FATAL FALL

By County Press Reporter - Wednesday, May 16, 2007
BUILDER John Lake’s fatal fall was probably caused by over-stretching from a ladder that was too short for the job, an inquest was told.
The 66-year-old father of two, from Castle Court, Ventnor, died in a fall while boarding up the long-disused former Lloyds Bank building in Wootton High Street, the inquest was told.
Mr Lake was called in by owner Dr Mark Patterson to re-board the windows of the building days after a fire. Mr Lake had first boarded it up some years before.
Senior Health and Safety Executive inspector Charles Gilbey said analysis of a report into Mr Lake’s death showed he had all but completed the job at lunchtime on October 9 and was halfway through boarding the last and highest window.
There was a half-inserted screw in the boarding and diagonal marks across it that could have been caused as he fell, taking the lightweight DIY ladder with him.
“It was most likely that he was over-stretching and fell. I don’t think a ladder was unreasonable to use for the job but this one was too short,” said Mr Gilbey.
Questioned by the family’s legal representative, Lynn Webb, over whose responsibility it was to carry out a risk assessment for the job, Mr Gilbey said: “I would say he carried out his own risk assessment and the ladder he had was adequate, for all but the top window.
“It is not for me to say at this stage whether there will be any prosecution.”
Anthony Barbrook, who had been in the next-door fish-and-chip shop, said he heard a metallic noise, went to the alley between the two buildings and discovered Mr Lake and the fallen ladder on the concrete. The builder, who still had the drill in his hand, was unconscious from severe head injuries.
Det Sgt Nick Heelan said Mr Lake, who had been working alone, appeared to have fallen head-first on to the concrete from a height of about 25ft.
Stephen Healey said his stepfather was an experienced builder who in recent years suffered a minor injury in a fall while carrying materials up a ladder and slipped on a stepladder.
Dr Patterson said Mr Lake, who was self-employed, first carried out work for him in 1996 and did various work on his properties using his own tools and equipment.
Recording an accidental death verdict, Island coroner John Matthews said there had been no evidence that Dr Patterson had directed how Mr Lake should do the work.