Health and safety news roundup- November
Below is a roundup of recent health and safety news.
Building contractor and director fined £600,000 after fire risk failings
Following a concern that people were sleeping on-site at S&S Quality Building Contractors Limited were investigated for health and safety failings.
The subsequent 2018 HSE investigation, assisted by Essex Fire & Rescue Service, identified failings in fire management at the site, creating risks to workers and members of the public who were visiting show flats outside of business hours.
It was discovered that the environment was poorly managed, and the construction work was being carried out in an unsafe manner which could have resulted in a fire.
HSE investigation indicated that the Company Director, Shlomo Pines, regularly attended the Regent House site and failed to implement improvements from previous HSE interventions.
S&S Quality Building Contractors Limited of Hawthorn Business Park, Granville Road, London, pleaded guilty to breaching 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. As a result, the company was fined £600,000 and ordered to pay costs of £36,894 at Basildon Crown Court on 25 October 2022.
Pines pleaded guilty to contravening Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He received a community order to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and was fined £4,200.
After the hearing, HSE Inspector Prentiss Clarke-Jones said: “S&S Quality Building Contractors Limited completely ignored the importance of fire safety measures on a construction site led by a director who willfully chose to ignore the risks despite evidence he knew how to make things safe. This unsurprisingly resulted in a site where risks were also ignored by his workers.
“Follow the guidance, get competent advice and take responsibility that the law requires at the very least, or someone may get hurt, which thankfully did not eventuate here.”
This news story was originally published by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).
Reflection points
What can we learn from this?
- Always undertake regular risk assessments and act on the advice
- Ask the question, “will what I am doing compromise our safety?” If in doubt, ask.
- Consider the cost to lives, reputation, and your business should you not follow health and safety advice
- Ignorance of the law is no excuse for ensuring that you provide a safe environment for all. Read our article What does health and safety compliance really mean?
- If in any doubt, speak with a health and safety consultancy that specialises in your organisation’s needs.
Eddie Stobart was fined after workers were exposed to asbestos
Logistics company Eddie Stobart was fined £133,000 for a series of failures that took place while excavation work was carried out at its rail and container freight port in Widnes and its staff were exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were disturbed by the building work, putting staff at risk.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found an asbestos survey had not been carried out, the workers involved hadn’t received any training in relation to asbestos, and Eddie Stobart failed to report the incident correctly.
Following the hearing, HSE Inspector Stuart Wood said: “Asbestos was historically used in countless applications and can be found in a variety of places.
“The law requires businesses undertaking work in demolition, maintenance or any other work which exposes or is liable to expose employees to asbestos to assume ACMs are present unless you have evidence, such as an asbestos survey, to indicate otherwise.
“The duty to manage asbestos relates to entire premises, including yard areas, not just buildings. There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos.”
You can read more on the HSE website here.
Reflection points
While no one can anticipate what you might find when undertaking building work, there are lessons to be learned.
- Before undertaking any new building work, undertake a risk assessment - read our article about identifying site-specific or dynamic risk failures
- Ensure that your team is properly trained - e.g. The IOSH Working Safely course and The Ligtas Asbestos Awareness course
- The need to prepare a safety case report - join our webinar
- If in any doubt, speak with a health and safety consultancy that specialises in your organisation’s needs.
Health and Safety law can feel somewhat complex and is notorious for leaving business owners feeling somewhat overwhelmed by its precise requirements.
Sadly, a single mistake or oversight may result in your company becoming the subject of a Health and Safety investigation, which may result in prosecution.
All registered companies are subject to legislation passed under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
If you are unsure, please contact Ligtas, and we will support you through what you need to remain safe and compliant.
