Construction Company Fined For Placing Workers At Risk | Kangs Health & Safety Regulatory Solicitors
At Westminster Magistrates’ Court a London based construction company (‘the Company’) was fined after pleading guilty to breaching the Work At Height Regulations 2005.
Nazaqat Maqsoom of Kangs Solicitors sets out the circumstances.
The Circumstances | Kangs Health & Safety Team
The court heard that during a site inspection a number of issues were identified which included:
- a floor being removed by a handheld breaker whilst workers were standing on it,
- the absence of safety measures to prevent employees from falling in the event that the floor collapsed and
- several unprotected edges, from where a person could fall a significant distance.
- risk assessment measures were identified but not implemented thereby creating a significant risk of people falling and causing serious/fatal injury.
The Law | Kangs Health and Safety Law Solicitors
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 provides:
Avoidance of risks from work at height
Regulation 6
(3) Where work is carried out at height, every employer shall take suitable and sufficient measures to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, any person falling a distance liable to cause personal injury.
The Hearing | Kangs HSE Defence Solicitors
The Company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) and was:
- fined £26,666.
- ordered to pay costs of £1,135.10
- ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £120.
Official Comment | Kangs Criminal Defence Solicitors
An Inspector from the Health & Safety Executive, Matthew Whitaker, was quoted as saying:
“Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well known. Work at height is dangerous and should be planned correctly and the required measures implemented”.
How Can We Help? | Kangs Health and Safety Regulatory Team
Kangs Solicitors has a wealth of knowledge and experience in dealing with all matters of health and safety law.
Who Can I Contact For Help? | Kangs National Criminal Defence Solicitors
Please feel free to contact our team through any of the solicitors named below who will be happy to provide you with some initial advice and assistance.
Hamraj Kang
hkang@kangssolicitors.co.uk
07976 258171 | 020 7936 6396 | 0121 449 9888
Sukhdip Randhawa
srandhawa@kangssolicitors.co.uk
0121 449 9888 | 020 7936 6396 | 07989 521 210 (24hr Emergency Number)
John Veale
jveale@kangssolicitors.co.uk
0121 449 9888 | 07989 521 210
