Families Against Corporate Killers (Fack).
Published Date: 9th March 2009
Linda Whelan cannot put into words the pain she felt one night seven years ago when she was woken to be told of her son's death.
On 23 May 2002 Craig Whelan, 23, and his steeplejack colleague Paul Wakefield, 40, were sent to demolish a chimney at Carnaud Metal Box factory in Westhoughton, Greater Manchester. A permit had been issued for the chimney to be dismantled using hot cutting equipment. But flammable chemicals on the inside of the building caught fire while the two men, both from Nottinghamshire, were drilling. The steel ropes holding the cradle they were standing on within the structure melted in the heat and the contractors plunged to their deaths.
It later emerged an e-mail from ICI had been sent to officials at the site warning that residue coating the inside of the chimney was dangerous. But this was not passed on to the two contractors or their company.
After her sons death Linda Whelan became a founder member of Fack and is working tirelessly with her organisation to see tougher health and safety laws brought into force.
On Monday 2nd March Fack members met officials involved with the Department of Work and Pensions inquiry into deaths on construction sites. Mrs Whelan is worried the recession will make the situation worse, as employees will be frightened to speak up for fear of losing their jobs.
The Health and Safety Executive, which investigated Mr Whelan and Mr Wakefield's deaths, said new laws which have come into force since 2002 had "sharpened directors' focus on their responsibilities".
A spokeswoman said: "We are aware of Fack and the work they do.
"As an independent government regulator we are not able to support individual campaigns but welcome any contribution to the debate of how to improve health and safety in the workplace and reduce the 229 deaths a year caused by work activities."
Owners, directors and Senior managers should ensure thorough risk assessments have been carried out and comprehensive risk management is in place or they should be prepared for the consequences. Will the plight of a few begin a much needed change in the minds of those ignorant to the safety of their workers by bringing tougher new laws and increased enforcement?
If you want to take a responsible approach to CoSHH risk assessment and risk management with the safe use of chemicals at work, please request a call back and we will be happy to help protect your company and its workers.
Read the full story on the BBC web site.