A construction worker who fell more than 30 feet to his death at one of Europe’s largest sewage works had admitted breaching safety rules three days earlier, an inquest heard yesterday.

Andy Parkinson, of Tidswell Street, Heckmondwike, died as a result of the multiple injuries he suffered in the fall in November, 2008.

The 38-year-old was working at Yorkshire Water’s Knostrop works in Knowsthorpe Road, Leeds, when the accident happened.

The inquest at Leeds Coroners Court heard Mr Parkinson was employed by Rhodes Engineering, of Heckmondwike, to work on the site as part of a £40 million refurbishment.

Rhodes Engineering was subcontracted by Laing O’Rourke to help construct metal walkways above and around sewage tanks as part of the multi-million pound scheme.

The inquest jury heard that despite wearing a safety harness, Mr Parkinson was seen falling about ten metres on to a concrete surface and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, shortly before 2pm on Thursday, November 13, 2008.

  • Read the full story in Tuesday’s T&A