Construction Companies Need to Be More Vigilant About Staff Safety
In May, 2008, Andrezej Freitag, a worker at Discovery Homes (Scotland) Limited, succumbed to the severe injuries he suffered after he fell from a height of three metres in the course of his employment He fell as there were no proper barricades in the area although the rules require proper protection of all employees working at a height.
The company pleaded guilty to the violation of Section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and agreed to pay the penalty of £5,000 in the Dundee Sheriff Court. A Director of the company was also held liable in his capacity as the site manager.
Health and Safety Executive Inspector, Murray Provan, said that the accident was due to the negligence of the Director, Mr Richard Lionel John Pratt, who was responsible for safety arrangements in his capacity as site manger. However, he failed to ensure the safety of workers working at heights as the barrier that was used was not the one that should be employed for heights but one used for road construction. He said that Mr Pratt was liable for the accident and the company was also liable by virtue of being Mr. Pratt’s employer. Mr. Pratt accepted liability under Section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and paid a fine of £4,000.
For anyone involved in major building, maintenance or refurbishment work compliance with Construction (Design and Management) Regulations is compulsory. Contact the experts at Workplace Law about CDM courses.
This is the second time in the last 6 years that a director of a Scottish company has been held liable for violation of safety laws. Mr. Provan asked all construction companies to be more vigilant in ensuring safety of workers so that such easily avoidable disasters do not reoccur.
