A round up of construction prosecutions.

HSE has recently issued several safety alerts which have relevance to the construction industry. Please read them to check if there are actions you need to take.
Deterioration and failure of cold / frozen food store ceilings
HSE recently completed a fatal accident investigation following the failure of the ceiling of a frozen food store. The store was constructed in the 1970s and the ceiling panels were bolted to a metal support frame. The investigation revealed that the bolts had failed primarily due to fatigue and corrosion.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/coldstoreceilings.htm?ebul=cons/nov10&cr=1
'False' engagement of tipping hooks on 'builders' skips
A fatality during the tipping-out of a 'builders' skip has identified a potential danger whereby fabrication of the skip can result in a lip on which tipping hooks may 'falsely' engage.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/tippinghooks.htm?ebul=cons/nov10&cr=2
2. ++ Ladder Exchange ++
Ladder Exchange is helping to remove dodgy ladders from Britain's workplaces. This year's initiative ends on 30th November - so if you have a ladder which is broken, damaged or bent, hurry now to exchange it for a safe, new one at one of our partner companies.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/ladderexchange.htm?ebul=cons/nov10&cr=3
3. ++ HEALTH AND SAFETY STATISTICS 2009/10 ++
Statistics released by HSE show that despite a significant fall in the number of recorded deaths and injuries construction is still one of Britain's most dangerous industries. Falls from height remain the biggest cause of fatalities with the other main causes being struck by a moving/falling object, being struck by a moving vehicle and collapses.
Further information
HSE Press Release - http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2010/hse-statistics2010cons.htm?ebul=cons/nov10&cr=4
Construction statistics - http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/industry/construction/index.htm?ebul=cons/nov10&cr=5
4. ++ RECENT ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY ++
Read details of some recent HSE prosecutions and enforcement action in the construction sector and find sources of relevant advice.
Work at height
17 November 2010 - A foam manufacturer has been fined after a worker fell through a roof at its Derbyshire factory. The worker had repaired a leaking roof and was walking back down when he fell through a fragile roof light.
The HSE investigation found Recticel Ltd had failed to properly plan the work and consider the risks.  The company admitted breaching regulations 4(1) and 9(1) of the Work at Height Regulations and was fined a total of £13,000 and £5,098 costs.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2010/coi-em-10010.htm?ebul=cons/nov10&cr=6
Further information
Working at height - http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/workingatheight.htm?ebul=cons/nov10&cr=7
Roof repair work - What you need to know as a busy builder http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/site3.pdf?ebul=cons/nov10&cr=8
Roofwork - http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/roofwork.htm?ebul=cons/nov10&cr=9
Struck by
10 November 2010 - Two Black Country construction firms have been fined after a worker was severely injured by falling timber.
Neil Anson was struck by timber roof trusses being unloaded by a mobile crane from a lorry trailer.
HSE prosecuted Kent Road Construction Limited and Mr S K Sharma, trading as Fortmere Construction. Kent Road Construction Ltd was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £4,496 costs while Mr Shiv Sharma, trading as Fortmere Construction, was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £899 costs.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2010/coi-wm-22810.htm?ebul=cons/nov10&cr=10
17 November 2010 - A Cardiff-based recycling company has ordered to pay over £230,000 after an employee died following an incident at its premises.
John Penhalagan, 44, was employed by Celsa Manufacturing (UK) when he was struck by a crane hook weighing 3.7 tonnes used to convey ladles of molten steel.
An HSE investigation found that while there was no mechanical defect with the crane, the hooks were able to move at head height near to operators on the ground without adequate safeguards.
Celsa Manufacturing (UK) pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £36,294.38.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2010/coi-w-1110ap.htm?ebul=cons/nov10&cr=11
Further information
CDM Regs 2007 -http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm.htm?ebul=cons/nov10&cr=12
Lifting Operations - http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/cranes.htm?ebul=cons/nov10&cr=13
Power cables
11 November 2010 - A Birmingham heating company has been convicted after one of its workers suffered serious burns from a power cable. The worker was using a hand held mini breaker to dig through concrete in an alleyway when he struck an 11kv cable under the pavement.
The Magna Heating Company Limited which is no longer trading pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 The company was fined £1.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2010/coi-wm-26710.htm?ebul=cons/nov10&cr=14