A construction company has been fined after failing to comply with a prohibition notice preventing workers from sleeping on a site where 384 homes were being developed – resulting in 48 workers being re-housed in safe sleeping accommodation.
On the 26 May 2015, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was contacted by the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) to inform them of concerns for men sleeping on the construction site at Trafford House, Station Way, Basildon in Essex.
HSE had carried out a joint inspection with ECFRS the same day and found numerous failings on site.
HSE concluded that there was a significant risk to life in the event of a fire and issued a prohibition notice preventing workers from sleeping on site. At the time of the inspection approximately 120 men were working across the site. A second prohibition notice closed the entire site until the appropriate steps had been taken to protect all workers from the dangers posed by fire.
RGB (Plastering and Construction) Limited of Monkmoor Road, Shrewsbury, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 29(a) and not guilty to Regulation 29(c) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The company was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,130.
After the hearing HSE Inspector Adam Hills said:
“This case highlights the importance of ensuring those who undertake construction work have the relevant skills, knowledge, training and experience to do so.
“There doesn’t have to be an injury or incident for HSE to take action. If you irresponsibly endanger the lives of those who are simply trying to earn a living then HSE can and will take proactive action to protect them.”
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