Fine for property developer suggests importance of IOSH managing safely courses

Category: IOSH Managing Safely
Thursday 25th of February 2010

A property developer has been given a fine after endangering the lives of its employees with a series of serious health and safety failings.

Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found a catalogue of unsafe working practices at the site on Albion Street in Hull, which suggests that further IOSH managing safely courses may still be needed by some businesses.

Problems found at the site, run by HQ Leisure, based in Bradford, included scaffolding that was missing important structural parts, roofing material being thrown from a height of 15 metres into an area where others were working and incorrect ladders being used on the upper floors to the building.

Furthermore, there was no toilet and inadequate washing facilities were provided for the employees on site.

The firm was fined £10,000 plus costs by Hull Magistrates' Court, with HSE inspector Stephen Hargreaves stating that the conditions on the site had left the workers at risk.

Fatalities in the construction industry are at the highest level for any of the major industries, with 53 reported deaths in 2008-09.

Posted by Lindsey French

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