Restoration firm fined after wall collapse

Date:

4 October 2010

Release No:

WW01/10

A Wiltshire construction company has been prosecuted after a teenager was seriously injured in a wall collapse.

Simon Jones Restoration and Re-design Limited pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches at Chippenham Magistrates Court today, Monday 4 October.

The prosecution was brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) who investigated the incident which took place on 24 August 2009.

Two employees were carrying out refurbishment work to a large domestic property in Chirton, Devizes, which had been in a poor condition for a number of years. They were creating an opening in a lime mortar gable end wall when the wall collapsed, injuring both workers.

The seriously hurt teenager, who does not want to be named, was aged 17 at the time of the incident. He suffered a fractured pelvis, ligament damage to his ankle and chipped teeth.

Mark Renouf, HSE Inspector said:

"This was a serious case which could easily have been fatal. The job was complex with a substantial element of temporary works. It needed to be carefully and meticulously planned with the involvement of a competent engineer. Unfortunately this was not done and as a result led to terrible consequences.".

The company, of Foxtwitchen, East Kennett, Marlborough, Wiltshire, pleaded guilty to breaching section 28(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and were fined £4,000, with £3,000 costs and ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to the injured teenager.

More information about construction planning can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/index.htm

Notes to editors

1. Regulation 28(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 states that an employer should ensure that all practicable steps are taken to ensure that any new or existing structure or any part of such structure, which may become unstable or in a temporary state of weakness or instability due to the carrying out of construction work does not collapse, where necessary to prevent danger to any person.
2. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce 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.

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