7th December 2017
London firm gets £200k fine for repeatedly ignored work at height warnings
A London based construction company has recently been fined over £200,000 for repeatedly failing to manage and control fall from height risks.
HSE Tip OFF
HSE inspectors made a number of visits to construction sites that were being run by Pride Way Development Limited after a tip-off from concerned workers and members of the public. On these visits, inspectors identified a number of serious health and safety failings, including unsafe work at height.
The HSE’s investigation found that Pride Way Development Limited had repeatedly breached health and safety legislation which gave rise to a significant risk of harm, with four improvement/prohibition notices having been for unsafe work at height in the past five years. A HSE intervention in 2013 resulted in the company drawing up a comprehensive work at height policy, but on subsequent site inspections, it was evident this policy was being ignored.
CDM breach
Pride Way Development Ltd of Harrow Road, Wembley, Middlesex, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The company has been fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,499.40.
Speaking after the case the HSE Inspector involved in the case 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.”
