A construction company and its managing director have been prosecuted for operating an unsafe construction site during the conversion of a building in Bollington.

Both were found guilty of completely failing in their duties to protect the workers or members of the public from harm, and that it was claimed that only luck caused no one was injured or killed.

The Court heard how the conditions on the site, where a former pub was being changed into two houses, were so poor it prompted a member of public to complain to the local authority.
The company and its director failed to notify HSE of the project, appoint a competent principal contractor or ensure they had suitable and sufficient measures to reduce risks to workers and members of the public. – HSE

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspected the site and had to stop all the work on the building as the conditions were so dangerous and putting workers lives at immediate risk.

The HSE served three prohibition notices and two improvements notices for safety failings ranging from work at height issues, missing floorings with no protection and health failings including the provision of welfare facilities with running water.

An unsafe wall on the property that had not been sufficiently supported to prevent it from collapsing.

The HSE found that both the company and its director did not put in place effective health and safety management at the start of the conversion and that the company and its director failed to notify HSE of the project, appoint a competent principal contractor or ensure they had suitable and sufficient measures to reduce risks to workers and members of the public.

The company were fined £42,900 with £3,781.24 costs.
Company Director pleaded guilty to breaching two charges under Section 37 of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £40,000 with £3,658.24 costs.
HSE inspector Deborah Walker said after the hearing: “Anyone involved in construction, no matter what size of site or project has to take the health, safety and welfare of their workers seriously.