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£500,000 fine for unsafe working practices on construction site (30 August 2016)

Date: 30/08/2016
Duncan Lewis, Personal Injury Solicitors, £500,000 fine for unsafe working practices on construction site

A construction company has been prosecuted after a member of the public raised concerns over unsafe working practices during the construction of an adventure course in Markeaton Park, Derby.

A passing member of the public noticed work at height being carried out from a pallet on the forks of a telehandler at the site in Markeaton Park, where a high ropes adventure course was being constructed by Bulgarian-based firm Walltopia.

The member of the public first reported this to Walltopia – but despite receiving assurances the matter would be dealt with, unsafe work at height continued.

The matter was then reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

HSE’s investigation at the site found work was taking place on a section of roof 11 metres off the ground, without the use of any means to prevent two workers falling from the open edges.

In addition, the workers were accessing the roof by climbing from the basket of a cherry picker.

At Derby Magistrates’ Court, Walltopia of Bulgaria Boulevard, Letnitsa in Bulgaria was fined £500,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,013.25, after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Lee Greatorex said:

“Using a pallet on a telehandler for planned work at height is an unacceptable means of access.

“It appears that the company failed to put in place control measures after being alerted about this.

“Walltopia failed to follow recognised industry standards during work at height – and did not make effective changes to the control of their working methods following the matter being brought to its attention.

“Work at height should always be sufficiently planned and managed to protect workers from being exposed to extreme risks from falls from height.

“In this case, someone could have suffered significant injuries or death.”

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no fee Construction Worker Injury Claims

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise construction workers who have sustained injuries on site as a result of employer negligence on how to make a no win no fee claim for compensation, including claims involving:

• Amputation
• Brain/head injury
• Crush injuries
• Fractures
• Hand arm vibration
• Hearing impairment
• Industrial disease
• Nerve damage
• Paraplegia/quadriplegia
• Spinal injuries.
• Vehicle/road traffic accidents

Personal injury claims usually have to be made within three years of injury or diagnosis of injury.

Duncan Lewis also offers supportive legal advice to bereaved families whose loved one has lost their life as a result of negligence on a construction site and who wish to claim compensation.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Construction Worker Injury Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 0333 772 0409.


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