UK Athletics and Keith Davies, head of sport for the 2017 World Para-athletics Championships, have been charged in relation to the death of Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei. The charges relate to “corporate manslaughter and a health and safety at work act offence” in the case of UK Athletics, while Davies faces charges of “gross negligence manslaughter and a health and safety at work act offence.” The charges relate to Hayayei’s death aged 36 in July 2017, after a metal cage fell on him while training at Newham Leisure Centre, London.
Hayayei had been preparing for the World Championships in London at the time of the accident. He had competed at the 2015 event in Doha, coming fifth in the discus and eighth in the shot put, while making his Paralympic debut at Rio 2016, where he finished sixth and seventh in the javelin and shot put respectively.
UK Athletics and Davies will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 31 January. During the opening ceremony of the London 2017 Championships, a moment of silence was held for Hayayei. The UAE thrower left behind five children.
Corporations have only fairly recently come under the spotlight for accountability when it comes to deaths resulting from accidents which occur in the workplace. However, the number of corporate manslaughter cases being brought has recently boomed. To avoid charges it is important that employers are aware of, and adhering to, all relevant health and safety regulations.
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