19 August 2023 , 16:39
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A construction firm fined in the past over on-site deaths has been accused of denying proper union access to Everton FC’s new
before a worker died.
Work at the £500million Bramley-Moore Dock site in Liverpool was halted after subcontractor Michael Jones, 26, died on Monday. Unite says Laing O’Rourke stopped its officers entering the site to freely speak to workers, granting only limited access. Merseyside police and the Health and Safety Executive are investigating Mr Jones’ death. It is not the first loss of life at a Laing O’Rourke construction site.
In 2021, a father and son died when a lift collapsed in Liverpool. In 2017, the firm was fined £800,000 after a worker was crushed by a dumpster at Heathrow in 2014. Unite’s Jerry Swain said: “Unions, especially when safety reps are in place, can swiftly resolve concerns. This kind of relationship hasn’t yet developed on the Everton stadium.”
Klopp pays his respects (Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Fan tributes outside ground (Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)Laing O’Rourke said Unite declined its offer when the project began in 2021 of access to worker inductions. A spokesperson added: "On Monday we lost Michael Jones in a tragic incident. He was a valued colleague and our wider project team are all shocked and deeply saddened by his death. On all our projects in the UK we give trade unions access to our worker inductions to promote the benefits of membership and to recruit members. This offer was made to regional Unite officers at the start of the Everton project two years ago and was declined.
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"The offer has always remained open to Unite. Unite did attend an induction session at the project on 1 August 2023. They told us they were impressed by what they saw and heard, and we offered to include their content in all future inductions and re-confirmed that a Union officer could attend them. We have heard nothing from Unite since our meeting on 1 August but, again, our offer remains on the table. It is disappointing that Unite has chosen such a sad moment for all involved to make these inaccurate claims. Our focus remains on supporting all those affected by what happened last week and assisting the Health and Safety Executive in its investigation.”
An Everton spokesperson said: “Everyone at Everton Football Club has been united in their grief following Michael’s tragic passing earlier this week. From the start of the project, we have seen that Laing O’Rourke has a strong commitment to the safety and welfare of everyone involved in this development. Following Monday’s tragic event, its team is currently assisting the HSE (Health and Safety Executive), which is conducting an investigation to understand what happened. We know that Laing O'Rourke offered Unite access to the site at the start of the project, in the summer of 2021, but this offer was not fully taken up by the union. However, our immediate focus as a football club and a community is to come together to support Michael’s family through this difficult time. This will be highlighted by supporters in the away stand at Villa Park today singing Michael’s name as the clock strikes 26 minutes and unfurling a banner in his memory.”A spokesman added: “Unite did attend an induction session at the project on August 1, 2023. “We have heard nothing from Unite since... but our offer remains on the table.” Everton FC added: “This offer was not fully taken up by the union.”
Reds’ tribute to true Blue Michael
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and his players visit Bramley-Moore Dock to pay their respects to Michael Jones, a lifelong Everton supporter. The team laid flowers and a message at the site which read: “Condolences from everyone at Liverpool FC. YNWA.”