£7,000 fine after worker crushed in building collapse

Date:

13 May 2010

Release No:

HSE/NW/027SmithWallace

Fines totalling £7,000 have been issued after part of an office block being built in Kirkham collapsed, seriously injuring one worker.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the building's designer, Peter Wallace of the Wallace Partnership, and the principal contractor, Jack Smith (Builders) Ltd, following the collapse at Kirkham Crossroads on Freckleton Street.

Part of a collasped office block in Kirkham

Blackpool Magistrates' Court heard that emergency services, including Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service's major incident unit, were called to the scene on 14 October 2008.

The HSE investigation found that a concrete block pillar, used to support the first and second floors, had been resting on the ground floor instead of going down into the foundations.

Allen Shute, the investigating HSE Inspector in Lancashire, said:

"One of the workers' legs was badly broken after the rubble fell on him, but the consequences could have been much worse. This was a basic error which should have been spotted by both the building's designer and the principal contractor.

"It is common sense that the pillar supporting the floors should have gone into the foundations, and not just rested on the floor below. It's vital companies learn lessons from this to prevent similar incidents happening in the future."

Peter Wallace of the Wallace Partnership, of Pope Lane in Preston, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Jack Smith (Builders) Ltd, of Cottam Lane, Ashton in Preston, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Both charges related to the safety of workers being put at risk. Peter Wallace was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £12,318 towards the cost of the prosecution at Blackpool Magistrates' Court on 12 May 2010. Jack Smith (Builders) was fined £3,000 with costs of £12,318.

More information on construction site safety is available at www.hse.gov.uk/construction.

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety."
3. Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every self-employed person to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that he and other persons (not being his employees) who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.

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