Firm fined after workers put at risk

Date:

16 January 2012

Release No:

HSE-e-59-12

A construction firm and its company secretary have been fined after construction workers were put a risk during the refurbishment of its offices in Hatfield, Hertfordshire.

Worker on external scaffolding at the Haz International Ltd site

Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive visited the premises of Haz International in Great North Road, Hatfield in September 2009 and again in July 2010 after receiving complaints about unsafe working at height.

During the 2009 visit, inspectors served a Prohibition Notice on the company preventing further work until improvements to the scaffolding had been made. A further two prohibition notices were served in July 2010, as poor working practices regarding work at height had continued.

Watford Magistrates' Court was told today that the firm and its company secretary failed to heed warnings from HSE and put in place adequate measures to manage the health and safety of construction workers and specifically of those working at height.

Internal tower scaffold arrangement at the Haz International Ltd site

Haz International Ltd admitted three breaches of health and safety legislation: Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974; Regulation 13 (2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007; and Regulation 4 (1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It was fined at total of £54,000 (£18, 000 for each breach) and ordered to pay £13,280 costs.

Company secretary Mark Adams of Prospect Crescent, Twickenham, admitted two breaches: Regulation 13 (2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and Regulation 4 (1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. He was fined £1,800 per breach and did not have to make a contribution to costs.

HSE Inspector John Berezansky said:

External scaffolding at the Haz International Ltd site

"Construction, in particular working at height, is a high risk activity with significant numbers of major and fatal injuries. Implementing appropriate standards with good planning, communication and cooperation is an absolute must.

"The defendants in this case failed to put these arrangements in place and it was pure luck there wasn't a serious incident at this site.

"Even thought they had received a previous Prohibition Notice and further advice from HSE and their own Construction Design and Management Coordinator (CDMC) they failed to heed it.

"HSE will not hesitate in prosecuting poor performing companies and any individuals within those companies who place persons at risk."

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 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."
3. Work at Height Regulations 2005 can be found at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/735/contents/made
4. CDM 2007 Regulations can be found http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/320/contents/made
5. HSE advice on how to mange working at height safely can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/

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