Information bite 218: Two construction companies fined after bricklayer injured
Two construction companies have been fined a total of £46,000 after a bricklayer was injured when a working platform failed.
Durham Crown Court heard how, on 1 July 2019, the principal contractor provided components for a proprietary polypropylene working platform at a new build at Marley Fields, County Durham.
A sub-contractor had supplied workers to erect the platform. An HSE investigation found that a number of components were missing from the working platform.
On this occasion, the worker who erected the failed platform had not received adequate training.
The working platform had been signed off as safe by a site manager working under the principal contractor. When this manager left, a number of months prior to the incident, the inspection and signing off of the working platform was no longer undertaken.
The principal contractor pleaded guilty to breaching CDM Regulations and was fined £38,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,367.30.
The sub-contractor also pleaded guilty and was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,683.60.
After the hearing the HSE principal inspector commented:
“Although the worker did not suffer life changing injuries, there was a potential for more serious injury. Those in control of work have a responsibility to ensure that workers are adequately trained, properly supervised, and work activities are appropriately monitored.”
