Bradford property developer fined for failings at hull site

Date:

23 February 2010

Release No:

YH/067/10

A Bradford property developer was today fined £10,000 for serious safety failings that endangered the lives of workers on a refurbishment project in Hull.

HQ Leisure Limited, of Park Drive, Bradford, pleaded guilty to six charges at Hull Magistrates Court, one breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, two breaches of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and three breaches of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

Magistrates heard that inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found a number of safety problems that could have caused a serious injury or fatality at a site on Albion Street, Hull, in October 2007, where a row of four-storey terrace buildings was being converted into 28 apartments.

The problems included:

• Rear scaffolding had not been properly inspected, and was found to be dangerously unstable because of missing structural supports
• Roofing materials were being thrown from a 15 metre high platform at the roof eaves - into an area where other contractors were working below
• Unsuitable ladders were being used to access upper floors
• Insufficient and unsecured boards were being used in the roof space leaving workers at risk of falling through the ceiling joists.
• Voids created by the demolition of a rear extension had not been guarded to prevent falls out of the building
• No toilet had been provided for the workers and washing facilities were inadequate

In addition to the £10,000 fine, HQ Leisure was also ordered to pay £10,000 costs.

Following the hearing HSE Inspector Stephen Hargreaves commented:

"HQ Leisure Limited blatantly disregarded the importance of a safe working site, leaving their workers on Albion Street at risk of serious injury or even death.

"Many people are killed on construction sites every year, and suitable planning and risk management is vital to prevent unnecessary risk.

"That clearly didn't happen on this occasion and there are a number of simple, practical measures that could and should have been taken by HQ Leisure Ltd.

"Property developers must be aware of their duties towards the health and safety of their workers, and HSE will continue to take action where we find significant risks to workers."

This prosecution coincides with the Health and Safety Executive's 'Shattered Lives' campaign, which aims to help reduce slips, trips and falls in a number of key sectors, including construction and refurbishments. These incidents cost British industry £800m a year.

Notes to editors

1. Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA) 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 might be affected thereby were not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety."
2. Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 states: "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."
3. Regulation 8(b) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 states: "A working platform shall be of sufficient strength and rigidity for the purpose for which it is being used."
4. Regulation 10(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 states: "Every employer shall ensure that no material or object is thrown or tipped from height in circumstances where it is liable to cause injury to any person."
5. Regulation 22(1)(c) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 states: "The principal contractor for a project shall ensure that welfare facilities sufficient to comply with the requirements of Schedule 2 (welfare facilities) are provided throughout the construction phase."
6. Regulation 23(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 states: "The principal contractor shall arrange for the construction phase plan to be implemented in a way which will ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health and safety of all persons carrying out the construction work and all persons who may be affected by the work."
7. More information about health and safety at work can be found online at www.hse.gov.uk
8. More information on the Shattered Lives campaign can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives

Press enquiries

Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.

Issued on behalf of HSE by COI News & PR Yorkshire and the Humber