Chloe Bidwell, an 18-year-old apprentice carpenter, was killed when a stack of unsecured wooden boards collapsed on her while she was working alone on a property renovation in Bangor, a court has heard. The incident occurred on December 20, 2023, at a house on Deiniol Road, where she was employed by Varcity Living Limited.
Each board weighed up to 30kg, and 28 boards were stacked vertically against a wall without any securing measures. Investigators believe Miss Bidwell may have been trying to retrieve a plywood board when the pile toppled, crushing her neck and causing fatal injuries. Her body was discovered after she failed to return home and did not respond to text messages.
Safety Failings Exposed
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that Varcity Living Limited failed to provide safe systems of work, adequate information, instruction, training, and supervision. The failings were attributed to director David Horrocks. The court heard there was insufficient site supervision, no lone working policy, no proper storage procedure for boards, and an inadequate risk assessment.
Varcity Living Limited pleaded guilty to breaching sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £10,080 in prosecution costs. David Horrocks, of Felinheli, pleaded guilty to breaching section 37 of the same Act and received a 26-week custodial sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to pay £7,886 in costs.
Family's Unbearable Pain
Speaking after the sentencing, Chloe's mother, Clare Stephenson-Brown, expressed the family's anguish. "Chloe died instantly and alone. The fact that she was by herself in those final moments is something that causes us unbearable pain and something we will carry forever," she said. She urged employers to "truly consider the responsibility they hold" for their employees' lives.
Ms Stephenson-Brown described her daughter as a skilled joiner, rugby player, surfer, skydiver, and aspiring firefighter who was "full of life, energy, and determination." She added, "We just hope that those responsible truly understand the enormity of what has happened, not only the loss of Chloe's life but the devastation caused to her family, her friends, and her community."
HSE Statement
HSE inspector Rachael Newman stated that Miss Bidwell was a young apprentice at the start of her career who had every right to expect her employer to keep her safe. "Apprentices should not be working alone on a construction site, and Chloe died in circumstances which should never have been able to happen," she said. "Today's result cannot bring Chloe back, but we hope the sentence handed down brings some solace to her family."
The tragedy highlights the critical importance of proper risk assessments, secure storage of materials, and adequate supervision for young workers. The court heard that no effort had been made to secure the boards upright, and the risk of toppling was not identified.
