Two construction firms convicted over fatal falling window at London tower block

In October 2018, a heavy window pane detached from a penthouse in The Corniche tower on Albert Embankment, falling 300 feet and killing coach driver Mick Ferris. At Inner London Crown Court, St James Group Ltd and Lindner Prater Ltd were convicted of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, with the jury finding they neglected their duty to ensure a safe window design. Evidence showed a prior pane had fallen in August 2017, yet the design was not substantially altered.

The window’s outward-opening design relied on a single metal restrictor, making it vulnerable to wind. Foster + Partners, responsible for the original concept, and engineering consultant Wintech Ltd were cleared. The firms await sentencing on 24 September, while the Health and Safety Executive expressed hope the verdict will bring some solace to Ferris’s family.