Horror Story of the Month 12/05/08
HSE inspectors will not tolerate negligence and poor safety standards.
May 12, 2008
This is the message from the HSE to businesses this month, following the successful prosecution of a window company on 30th April 2008.
Everest Ltd of Potters Bar were fined £6,000 with £15,963 costs by Luton magistrates after pleading guilty to breaching health and safety law including the Work at Height Regulations (2005).
In 2006, Everest had been contracted to perform domestic roofline refurbishment on some residential properties in Luton. This type of work involves people working at height from mobile tower scaffolds and associated work platforms. An HSE inspector passing the sites in both July and November noted an absence of suitable protection to prevent the workmen from falling, which led to immediate action in the form of a Prohibition Notice stopping work at the sites.
HSE inspector Norman Macritchie described the level of serious and fatal injuries in refurbishment projects as 'unacceptable', and stated that there is 'no room for any complacency'. He explained that robust enforcement action will be taken where serious or repeated breach of legislation is found.
For further information about the charges in this case, and what should have been done, or to comment on the case visit our Health and Safety blog page.