Welcome to HSE prosecutions in brief. A selection of the latest prosecutions by the HSE.
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Construction company fined over multiple safety failings
An Ammanford construction company has been fined after a routine inspection at one of its sites revealed a number of dangerous failings.
T Richard Jones (Betws) Ltd was operating a site at St Michael’s Church, Manselton, Swansea on 10 August 2011 when Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors visited as part of a routine inspection.
Swansea Magistrates’ Court heard that on arrival, HSE’s inspectors were informed that the site manager was on holiday. Construction sites need a site manager to ensure that risks to health and safety are adequately controlled.
Washing facilities were found to be inadequate and workers were found not to be wearing protective glasses or gloves, which was of particular concern as lime mortar was being used. Use of lime mortar creates a serious risk to health and can lead to the loss of sight, skin burns or dermatitis.
In addition there were two employees working at height without measures in place to prevent injury caused by a fall.
A subsequent investigation by the HSE concluded the company had failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of its employees.
T Richard Jones (Betws) Ltd of Foundry Road, Ammanford, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,658.
Comments from the HSE through the link.
British standards relating to risk management.
Hertfordshire property developer prosecuted after workers put at risk
A property developer has been fined after the routine inspection of a construction site discovered safety failings that endangered the lives of workers.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors visited Stefano Di Piazza’s construction site at Sun Street, Waltham Abbey, Essex, on 10 February 2011, as part of a targeted programme of construction site inspections and saw contractors working three metres above ground without measures in place to prevent them from falling.
A Prohibition Notice was served by HSE to stop all work immediately until safety measures were put in place.
Further enquires determined that Stefano Di Piazza of King Edward Road, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, was the client for the development.
Stefano Di Piazza pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court to four breaches of the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2007 and was fined a total of £10,000 with £5,741 to pay in costs.
Mr Di Piazza admitted he failed to appoint a competent principal contractor; failed to take reasonable steps to ensure that work was carried out without risk to health and safety; did not appoint a CDM Co-ordinator and didn’t notify HSE of the construction project to convert two buildings into nine apartments and two retail units.
The Principal Contractor was fined at a previous prosecution.
Comments from the HSE through the link.
British standards relating to risk management.
Timber building company fined after worker’s fall at Shropshire school
A company which makes modular timber buildings has been fined after an employee suffered multiple injuries falling from a canopy at a Shropshire school.
RG Stones (Buildings) Ltd had been contracted to replace the canopy between two temporary buildings at Lakelands School on Oswestry Road in Ellesmere when the incident happened on 8 August 2011.
William Phillips, 52, of Weston Rhyn, was standing on the canopy with two colleagues when he fell three metres between the timber joists onto the concrete floor below.
He fractured his back, breastbone, six ribs and right wrist and has not yet been able to return to work.
Shrewsbury Magistrates’ Court heard today (10 August) that an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company had not installed any edge protection to prevent a fall. It had put two soft landing bags on the floor to mitigate the effect of any fall, but neither were in the area where the work was being carried out.
RG Stones (Buildings) ltd, of Grosvenor Road, Wrexham, Clwyd, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for failing to protect Mr Phillips. The company was fined £6,500 and ordered to pay costs of £3,105.
Comments from the HSE through the link.
