Design firm fined after workers injured at fashion chain

Date:

8 July 2011

Release No:

COILON/0807

A Staffordshire-based interior design company has been fined after two men were injured while carrying out refurbishment work at a TK Maxx outlet in Hounslow.

Three men were pouring concrete to fill in an opening in the first floor of the retail unit, left following the removal of stairs and an escalator.

The Old Bailey heard that on 21 September 2006 the men had only just begun to pour the concrete when the temporary propping erected to support the underside of the decking, installed within the opening, collapsed. This caused the men to fall more than 4.8 metres to the floor below.

All three men were taken to hospital, one with a dislocated shoulder, another had a fractured pelvis and elbow, the third worker was unhurt.

Bridgford Interiors Limited, of Fradley Park, Lichfield, Staffordshire pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £25,000 and ordered to pay costs of £23,392.

HSE Inspector Viv Neaverson said:

"This prosecution arises as a result of Bridgford's failing in their duty as the company responsible for the temporary work. Whilst they had appointed a structural engineering company to execute the permanent works, they had not appointed a temporary works engineer and, as such, this duty fell to them."

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. Health and safety legislation is currently under the spotlight as part of the Cabinet Office's Red Tape Challenge. To have your say on which regulations should stay and which should be scrapped, visit: http://www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/home/index/ and the Government will consider your views.
3. 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."
4. Information on risk assessments can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/casestudies/index.htm

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