Schools' duties to protect...trespassers
A recent case resulted in a £2 million fine to the landowner following the death of a boy critically injured whilst trespassing.
Background
National Grid was recently fined £2,000,000 for failing to protect a pipeline properly against the risk of people climbing on it. Tragically, the failure led to the death of an 11 year old boy who used the pipeline to cross the Leeds-Liverpool canal with friends. He fell into the canal and died later that day in hospital.
This failure happened because National Grid's records wrongly showed the pipe as being buried within the adjacent bridge. This meant the usual access prevention measures were never implemented.
Recommendation to Schools
Schools need to ensure that visual inspections are carried out regularly and that risks not only to staff and pupils but also to the public, including trespassers, are appropriately dealt with. This is particularly relevant for schools who own large open spaces.
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If you would like to discuss any aspect of this article further, please contact Emma Ridge on 0113 244 6100. You can also keep up to date by following Wrigleys Solicitors on LinkedIn. The information in this article is necessarily of a general nature. Specific advice should be sought for specific situations. If you have any queries or need any legal advice please feel free to contact Wrigleys Solicitors |
