UNCONTROLLED RISK OF HARM FINED £200,000
Principal Contractor repeatedly failed to manage work at height
Pride Way Development Ltd, has today been fined £200,000 after repeatedly failing to manage and control fall from height risks.
Westminster Magistrates heard how, following concerns expressed by workers and members of the public, HSE inspectors made a number of visits during 2016/17 to sites where the company was the appointed the Principal Contractor.
Inspector identified a number of serious health and safety failings, including unsafe work at height.
History of breaching legal requirements
HSE investigators found that the company had repeatedly breached health and safety legislation which gave rise to significant risk of harm, with four HSE enforcement notices issued in respect unsafe work at height over the previous five years.
A HSE intervention in 2013 resulted in the company drawing up a comprehensive work at height policy which subsequent inspections showed was being ignored.
Pride Way Development Ltd – of Wembley, Middlesex, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 which requires that the Principal Contractor must plan, manage and monitor the construction phase to ensure that construction work is carried out without risks to health or safety.
The company was fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,499.40
Speaking after the case, HSE Inspector Gabriella Dimitrov said:
“Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work fatalities in this country, and the risks associated with working at height are well-known.
Pride Way has been repeatedly warned by HSE about the need to manage risks, and have today been held to account for failing to take adequate action to protect the health and safety of its workers.”
Fines can be easily avoided with the correct training.