Mr Peter Eaton, one of the directors of Cotswold Geotechnical Holding Ltd, who has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter, made an appearance at Bristol Crown Court today. The charges against him and his company have been brought under the 2007 Corporate Manslaughter Act.

The case was filed by Crown Prosecution Service after the death of one of the company’s employees, Mr Alexander Wright. Wright was a young geologist who died when a trench where he was working caved-in in September 2008.

In a small proceeding, Eaton confirmed his name and was granted unconditional bail by Judge Thomas Crowther QC. The next date for hearing of the case before Bristol Crown Court has been granted on 19 August, when a plea is expected.

Being responsible for the company as its director, Peter Eaton was also found to be in breach of Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. This section makes the provision for prosecution of a senior office holder of the company if it can be shown that an employee suffered harm due to the neglect or consent of an officer.

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Charges have also been framed against the company due to infringement of Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act, which warrants provision of safeguard mechanisms as far as possible for the health and safety of employees at the workplace.