Building Firm Fined After Worker Crushed to Death in Bath
A building company has been hit with a hefty fine after a tragic accident left a worker dead. A retaining wall collapsed at a school site in Bath, crushing Gary Anstey, 57, beneath it.
Grandad Killed at School Construction Site
Gary Anstey, a new grandad from Bristol, was working for H. Mealing & Sons Limited at Swainswick School on 19 March 2019. Tragedy struck when a 1.8-metre high retaining wall gave way, burying him underneath.
HSE Slams Shocking Safety Failings
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation uncovered serious blunders by the company. H. Mealing & Sons had failed to properly plan or supervise the wall’s build. The unsecured, incomplete wall collapsed after a heavy load of aggregate was placed against it.
- HSE rules require temporary structures to be designed and installed to handle all loads.
- Only trained workers following a strict written plan should build such walls.
Family Mourns as Justice is Served
“Gary’s workplace should have been safe. He should have come home as always,” said his wife Anne Anstey. “He had just become a grandad and missed out on all our family milestones—celebrations that we now have to live without him.”
H. Mealing & Sons of Batheaston pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety laws. They were fined £56,775 and ordered to pay £44,000 in court costs at Taunton Magistrates’ Court on 11 September 2025.
HSE Inspector Demands Urgent Safety Overhaul
Inspector Ian Whittles described the incident as “horrific” and “heartbreaking.” He criticised the company’s poor planning as “all too common” in construction. “Simple procedures and proper training could have prevented this,” he warned.
