Newquay building contractor fined for ignoring safety risks
A Newquay building contractor has been fined for allowing multiple safety failings at a new-build construction site, exposing workers to serious risk of injury.
Bodmin Magistrates' Court heard today (28 Nov) that Paul David Brannan was the principal contractor at the four-storey apartment block in Mount Wise, Newquay.
The unsafe site in Mount Wise, Newquay
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that numerous 'fall from height' risks were observed at the site, including unprotected edges in floor-to-ceiling window openings, the lift shaft and stairwell. Scaffolding was also incomplete.
A health and safety inspection had been carried out by a competent advisor two months before the HSE inspection. The fall risks were highlighted by the advisor, yet no effective action had been taken by Mr Brannan to make improvements or to eliminate the safety risks.
Paul David Brannan, of Ulalia Road, Newquay, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. He was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,800.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Barry Trudgian said:
"The dangers of working at height are well known within the construction industry and this site had the greatest number of fall risks I have seen in one structure. It is very fortunate that nobody was injured because in numerous parts of the building, on each floor, there were no measures in place to prevent workers falling from height.
"Today's prosecution should serve as a reminder to all building contractors and companies to protect their employees from falls when working at height. It is a legal duty to manage safety and failing to do so ends too often in tragedy."
Further information about working safely at height can be found on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/falls
Notes to editors
- 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
- Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 states that "Where work is carried out at height, every employer shall take suitable and sufficient measures to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, any person falling a distance liable to cause personal injury."