Overview

• Martin Dunford, a 33-year-old kitchen fitter, was crushed to death by improperly stored concrete blocks at a Cotswolds construction site in January 2020.
• An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed critical safety failures, including unsuitable storage areas and poorly maintained wooden pallets.
• Piper Homes Construction Limited, the principal contractor, admitted to breaching Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 and was fined £300,000 with £5,236 in costs.
• The HSE inspector emphasized that proper planning, management, and inspection could have prevented the fatal incident, describing it as 'entirely avoidable.'
• Martin Dunford’s family expressed ongoing grief but acknowledged the court's verdict as a step toward justice for his preventable death.