Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Construction firm fined for endangering workers and the public

A construction firm has been prosecuted for endangering workers and the public with unsafe demolition work.

Local residents raised concerns that asbestos materials were being smashed up and littering the site, that debris was dropping from height onto the road and footpath; and that the site was insecure despite its close proximity to a local school.

The Health and Safety Executive investigation found that the company should have carried out an asbestos survey and produced a health and safety plan and a plan of demolition to ensure the buildings came down in a safe manner. Safe working platforms such as scaffolding could also have been used.

The construction company also employed inexperienced labourers to carry out demolition and asbestos removal, and did not give them sufficient instruction, training, or supervision. The company was fined £36,000 and ordered to pay £9159 in costs.

HSE Inspector Helen Donnelly said: "Construction projects need to be properly planned and safely managed by competent personnel using the right procedures and equipment. That clearly didn't happen here, and I hope lessons have been learned."

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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/rnn-ldn-19412.htm?eban=rss-

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