Improvement notice issued to AV Dawson after Middlesbrough port death

Emergency services were called to the Port of Middlesbrough, at the Riverside Park Industrial Estate, after the incident on December 8.

Sadly, a man, who worked for AV Dawson, was pronounced dead at the scene, sparking an investigation by Cleveland Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).  

The Port of Middlesbrough, which is owned and operated by AV Dawson, has now been handed an improvement notice by the HSE. 

The notice, issued on December 16, states the company failed to ensure risk assessment and system of work measures were implemented during the transport, handling and storage of steel pipes.

The full notice states: “You have failed to make and give effect to such arrangements as are appropriate, for the effective control and monitoring of your preventive and protective measures, by failing to ensure that the measures identified in your risk assessment and system of work document were being implemented during the transport, handling and storage of steel pipes on December 8, 2025.”

The firm must comply with the notice by March 13.

An AV Dawson spokesperson said: “We are cooperating fully with the ongoing HSE investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”

Cleveland Police previously said the HSE was leading the investigation.

The HSE probe remains ongoing.

AV Dawson previously said its thoughts were with the man’s family and friends.