William Eichler 22 February 2019

Council to take legal action over Storm Doris death

A West Midlands council has confirmed that it will pursue legal action against the building management company of the Mander Centre for the death of Tahnie Martin.

Ms. Martin, 29, was killed by a large piece of wooden roofing that fell from the Mander Centre as she walked past a Starbucks in Wolverhampton during Storm Doris in February 2017.

City of Wolverhampton Council has said it will be taking legal action under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (1974) against Cushman and Wakefield Debenham Tie Leung Limited, the management company responsible for the centre.

A council statement said: ‘The particulars being that on and before 23 February 2017, the defendant, being an employer, failed to conduct its undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that persons not in its employment who might be affected thereby, including Tahnie Martin, were not thereby exposed to risks to their health and safety arising in connection with the maintenance of the exterior of the Blackrock Building, including the structures upon it contrary to Section 3(1) and 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.’

A summons has been served on the company to appear at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on 4 April 2019.

Photo: ©Roger Kidd

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