Construction company fined after man suffers serious crush injuries at work
- 24.06.2020
- JessicaMG
- Personal-injury
A construction company has been following an accident at work incident, in which a worker was seriously injured while erecting a timber frame chalet bungalow.
Chelmsford Crown Court heard that in July 2017, a worker at a site in East Mersea, Essex, sustained serious crush injuries when roof trusses toppled over while being moved by crane.
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) launched an investigation into the incident and found no safe area for workers to work due to a lack of scaffolding both within and around the building. Furthermore, it was found that lifting the roof trusses in packs created risks which were not sufficiently managed, and that the company and company owner had failed to plan, manage and monitor the work which was under their control.
After pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 13(1) of The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, JWB (Mersea) Ltd of Westwood Drive, West Mersea, Colchester was fined a total of £1,000.
However, company director and owner, Jason Whiting, of the same address, received a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for 24 months and was also required to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work, after he pleaded breaching Section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
HSE inspector David King, said after the hearing: “Lifting the roof trusses individually and securing them permanently could have prevented this accident. HSE is keen to increase awareness of the need to plan, manage and monitor construction work and ensure the health and safety of construction workers. HSE will take enforcement action if companies do not manage health and safety on their sites, including directors.”