Health and Safety Executive to lead probe into Everton stadium worker’s death
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An inquiry into the death of an Everton supporter who was working on the club’s new stadium will aim to establish whether health and safety laws were breached, investigators have said.
Michael Jones, 26, from Kirkby, Merseyside, died on August 14 last year after being injured at Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool, where Everton’s new ground is being built.
A criminal investigation into his death is being led by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after the involvement of Merseyside Police concluded, an HSE spokesman said on Monday.
HSE inspector John Padfield said: “We have been a part of this inquiry from the outset and we will continue to thoroughly investigate Michael’s tragic death as the lead agency.
He was a lifelong Blue who was so happy to be working on the new stadium
“This will aim to establish if there have been any breaches of health and safety law.
“We are in regular contact with Michael’s family and our thoughts remain with them at this time.”
An inquest into Mr Jones’s death was opened and adjourned last year.
The coroner’s court heard the ventilation engineer, whose middle name was Goodison, had been operating a scissor ladder when he was caught between it and the beam above.
Following Mr Jones’ death, his family described him as a “beloved son, brother, uncle and friend”.
They said: “He was a lifelong Blue who was so happy to be working on the new stadium.”
Last year, Everton announced they would remain at their current ground, Goodison Park, until the 2025/26 season but that the new football stadium was still on schedule to be completed by the end of 2024.
