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Teenager Died 'Instantly and Alone' After Employer Utterly Failed Her
Varcity Living admitted health and safety failings after the death of 18-year-old apprentice Chloe Bidwell, and the company was fined £50,000.
- Varcity Living Limited was fined £50,000 for health and safety failings following the death of 18-year-old apprentice Chloe Bidwell, who was crushed by unsecured wooden boards while working alone at a property in Bangor.
- On December 20, 2023, Bidwell was working alone on a renovation when a stack of 28 boards, each weighing up to 30kg, fell on her after no measures were taken to secure them.
- An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found inadequate site supervision and no lone working policy, with director David Horrocks of Felinheli admitting to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
- Horrocks received a 26-week prison sentence suspended for two years, and the court ordered Varcity to pay £10,080 in prosecution costs, with Horrocks ordered to pay £7,886 in personal costs.
- Following the sentencing, Chloe's mother Clare Stephenson-Brown described the loss as causing "unbearable pain" and urged all employers to "truly consider the responsibility they hold" for their workforce.
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Total News Sources13
Leaning Left2Leaning Right2Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Center
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
67% Center
L 17%
C 67%
R 16%
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