In House Design and Build Limited, of Royalty House, Dean Street, London, pleaded guilty to two breaches under Regulation 13 (1) of the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015. It has been fined £100,000.
In addition, project manager Neil Crow, of Woodgrange Avenue, London, pleaded guilty to two breaches under Regulation 13 (1) of the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015, by virtue of Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. He was fined £15,000, while full costs of £15,000 were also awarded.
Reading Magistrates' Court heard how Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors made a number of visits to two project sites during 2015 after concerns were raised by both workers and members of the public.
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A number of serious health and safety failings were discovered at the sites where In House Design & Build Ltd was the principal contractor.
A HSE investigation found that over a four-month period at the first site, and despite several enforcement notices being served, the company still failed to adequately address the risks. The notices served were for breaches including unsafe work at height, working in unstable deep excavations and inadequate arrangements for planning, managing and monitoring construction work.
Similar concerns were found later in the year at the second site where very poor welfare arrangements were also noted.
HSE inspector Dominic Goacher said: "Principal contractors and their managers have a duty to ensure risks to workers are managed throughout the construction phase of projects. This case serves as a reminder to those responsible of the importance of ensuring construction work is properly planned, managed and monitored so that serious risks are identified and eliminated or controlled. It was only by good fortune that someone was not seriously injured or killed in this instance."
(LM)
