Lesson Learnt? Construction Company Fined!

A safety inspection was carried out at a construction site in Redditch, Worcestershire following a report of a fall from height. During this inspection, there was clear evidence of inadequate management for work at height and numerous other uncontrolled site safety risks. Mainly there was no edge protection on a flat roof the company employees were working on which is required by the working at height regulations to prevent falls, this was despite a fall from the same flat roof only eight days earlier. The incident happened on 8 October 2019.

Prohibition Notices were immediately served in response to the health and safety breach and for an unsafe mean of safely accessing the building. An Improvement Notice was also served in relation to their planning for work at height and a Notification of Contravention was served for other identified health and safety failings.

S.S.F Construction Limited of The Old Foundry, Ash Street, Bilston, West Midlands plead guilty to breaching the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015). The company were fined £48,000 and with costs to pay of £3,443.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Chris Gregory said: “The company didn’t learn their lesson from the recent incident and failed to ensure that health and safety measures were in place, which led to the potential of further falls from height and serious injuries or fatalities. There were several other health and safety breaches and clear evidence of poor safety management”.

“Those in control of work have a legal responsibility to ensure that work activities are appropriately planned, managed and monitored and that suitable safety measures are both established and put into action.

“HSE will not hesitate to take enforcement action against those that fall below the required health and safety standards – it is clear that in this case we were left with no choice but issue these notices and prosecute the company.”