Lincolnshire builder fined for leaving building at risk of collapse

Date:

8 February 2011

Release No:

HSE 139/11

A builder has been fined for putting workers and the public in danger by leaving a building at risk of collapse in Lincoln city centre.

Ian Behagg, who trades from Unit 18, Lydon Business Park, Farrier Way, Lincoln was refurbishing residential premises in Sibthorp Street between 10 and 17 February 2010, when the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) made an inspection visit.

Lincoln Magistrates' Court heard how Mr Behagg had allowed workers to remove structural parts of the building without supporting it properly. They failed to use temporary supports, putting both themselves and members of the public in danger.

Workers were also found to be working at height without suitable protective equipment to prevent them falling and injuring themselves.

Inspector Stephen Farthing said:

"Mr Behagg's blatant disregard for health and safety put both workers and members of the public in danger.

"Had the building collapsed, the consequences might have been fatal.

"HSE will continue to clamp down on small construction companies which fail to take the health and safety of their employees and the public seriously."

Ian Behagg pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 28(1) and 28(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. He was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,051 at Lincoln Magistrates' Court on 7 February 2011.

Working at height remains one of the biggest causes of injury in the workplace. In 2008/9, there were 35 deaths and more than 4,000 major injuries caused by falls from height.

Information on health and safety in the construction industry 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. Regulation 28 (1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 states "All practicable steps shall be taken, where necessary to prevent danger to any person, 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."
3. Regulation 28 (2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 states "Any buttress, temporary support or temporary structure must be of such design and so installed and maintained as to withstand any foreseeable loads which may be imposed on it, and must only be used for the purposes for which it is so designed, installed and maintained."

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