A Cheshire building contractor, Phillip Affleck, has been fined
for serious health breaches and lack of welfare facilities on a Culcheth
building site.
Trafford Magistrates’ Court heard that the Health and Safety
Executive (HSE) received a complaint from a member of the public in May 2014
about the conditions on the site where work was being carried out to convert a
disused NHS premises.
The HSE investigation found access to the construction site was
restricted and a lack of both health and safety provisions and welfare
facilities. Workers were entering the building via ladders and planks. Work was
stopped whilst Mr Affleck arranged for scaffolding to be erected to make access
to the building safe.
Dust from sandblasting activities was found to be affecting
other workers on the site and inadequate protection had been provided. Workers
were expected to carry out tasks such as groundworks and bricklaying but were
unable to wash their hands to remove any contamination.
An Improvement Notice requiring the provision of sanitary,
washing and rest facilities was issued.
On Friday 18 September 2015, Mr Affleck of Legh Street, Golborne
pleaded guilty to breaches of Regulation 22 of the Construction (Design and
Management) Regulations 2007 and Regulation 7 of the Control of Substances
Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. He was fined a total £4,000 and ordered
to pay costs of £2,495.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Deborah Walker said:
“It is hoped that this case serves as a lesson to all Principal Contractors
that they must provide suitable toilets, washing facilities which include hot
and cold running water and suitable, sheltered rest facilities for all workers
engaged on their sites.”
No comments:
Post a Comment