ISO 45001 and the Whitley Bay Funfair Fatality: Why Health and Safety Must Never Be Optional

On 23 August 2025, a tragic workplace accident occurred at the Spanish City Summer Funfair in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside - a well-known UK seaside destination. A man in his twenties, working on one of the fairground rides, suffered catastrophic head injuries while the ride was being set up or serviced. Emergency services, including air ambulance and police, were called just after 2:15pm, but despite their rapid arrival and efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The worker was later identified as Corrie Lee Stavers, a 28-year-old employee of Turners Funfairs, a long-established UK operator. His family released a statement describing their grief as “impossible” and spoke of Corrie as someone with “a laugh that filled every room.” Turners Funfairs, clearly shaken, closed the site immediately and offered full cooperation with investigators.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Northumbria Police have since launched a joint investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. As of late August, the ride involved in the accident remained cordoned off, and the rest of the funfair remains closed pending the outcome of enquiries.

This was not a freak accident. It was a preventable death - and one that should cause every employer, particularly in high-risk, mobile or seasonal industries, to reflect on whether they truly have safety embedded in their operations.

How ISO 45001 Could Have Made a Difference

ISO 45001 is the international standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS). It provides a framework not just to react to accidents, but to prevent them from occurring in the first place through structured, evidence-based management of risk.

1. Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

Clause 6.1 of ISO 45001 requires organisations to proactively identify hazards before work begins. In the context of a fairground, this includes the mechanical risks of ride assembly, head injury risks from moving components, and the dangers of operating in a public, high-noise, and fast-paced environment.

Had ISO 45001 processes been applied, a formal risk assessment could have led to physical barriers, lock-out/tag-out procedures, and clearly defined exclusion zones during maintenance - any of which might have prevented Corrie’s fatal injury.

2. Leadership and Worker Participation

Clause 5.1 demands visible, active leadership in promoting safety. Clause 5.4 requires consultation and participation of workers. A certified organisation would ensure that workers feel empowered to report unsafe conditions or practices - without fear of being ignored or penalised.

3. Operational Controls

Clause 8.1 deals with control of operations. For mobile workplaces like fairgrounds, this means having written procedures for set-up, safety checks, and verification that equipment is safe before operation. Temporary and seasonal environments are especially prone to skipping steps under time pressure - ISO 45001 helps prevent that.

4. Emergency Preparedness and Response

Clause 8.2 requires organisations to plan for emergencies. With better planning, onsite personnel might have had immediate access to emergency stop systems, head protection, or more rapid intervention protocols, potentially altering the outcome.

5. Incident Investigation and Learning

Clause 10.2 requires not just investigation, but corrective action. Many tragic incidents are preceded by near-misses that were not acted upon. ISO 45001 creates a system where these aren’t just logged - they’re learned from, systematically and permanently.

Why This Matters Now

Corrie’s death is not an isolated case. According to the HSE’s 2024/25 figures, 124 people died in workplace accidents in Great Britain. Industries involving machinery, temporary structures, and mobile operations - like events and funfairs - remain among the highest-risk environments.

Yet many small-to-medium operators still do not have a structured health and safety management system in place. And when they do, it's often paper-thin - just enough to satisfy insurers or a council permit.

ISO 45001 is not just for construction giants or corporate offices. It is a practical, scalable system that applies just as powerfully to a travelling funfair as it does to a factory.

Final Thought

The family of Corrie Lee Stavers should never have had to issue a press release explaining their loss. Turners Funfairs should never have had to shut down a site in mourning. And the wider UK event industry should not have to react to tragedy before it acts.

ISO 45001 exists to stop incidents before they happen - not to pick up the pieces afterwards.

If your organisation operates in any environment where people are at physical risk, now is the time to ask: Do we have the right systems in place to protect them?

Learn how AAA Certification Ltd can support you in achieving ISO 45001:2018. Sign up to a Certification Audit with AAA and take the first step towards achieving ISO 45001 certification.