Property firm prosecuted following workplace
injury
Health & Safety update 03/06/2011
A property development company has been prosecuted by the HSE
following a serious workplace accident.
A 46-year old man employed by London-based Nabiganj Investment
Company Ltd was almost paralysed in the accident, which took place
in a Hackney warehouse in October 2009.
The workers was standing on an incomplete tower scaffold five
metres up in the air when he fell and suffered severe head, pelvis
and spine injuries. He now has problems walking. The subsequent
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the firm
had failed to implement proper safety measures which could have
prevented the accident.
The firm was also found to have disregarded asbestos hazards,
failing to carry out an asbestos survey prior to starting
demolition work. Nabiganj Investment Company Ltd pleaded guilty to
breaching Regulation 4 (1) (a), Regulation 10, Regulation 14(1) and
Regulation 16(1) of the Construction (Design and Management)
Regulations 2007.
The firm was fined £37,500 alongside costs of £5,459.90. Eileen
Gascoigne, HSE inspector said, “A vulnerable worker was left with
devastating injuries as a result of the consistently poor attitude
to safety this company has displayed.
“This is an experienced property development firm. It has had
previous enforcement action taken against it by the HSE relating to
similar issues during construction work. Once again in avoiding its
responsibilities, it has put the safety and health of at least six
vulnerable workers at unnecessary risk,” she added.