11.11.2005

Work at height abuse costs Builder £21,000

Optima (Cambridge) Ltd of 62 Park Road, Peterborough, pleaded not guilty to three charges of breaching health and safety regulations.

The case followed a Health & Safety Executive investigation, prompted by an anonymous complaint about construction work at a housing development outside the entrance to Peterborough Regional College in Eastfield Road, Peterborough.

An HSE inspector visited the site on 11 November 2004 to investigate the complaint and found unsafe working at height with a significant risk of persons being injured. The inspector also observed the mobile access towers bridged by scaffold boards and unsecured ladder accesses. Key health and safety documentation relating to the project was not displayed on site and could not be produced.

Appearing for trial on Monday and Tuesday this week, Optima denied breaching regulations 5(1) and 6(1) of the Construction (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1996, and regulation 16(1)(d) of the Construction (Design & Management Regulations) 1994.

Magistrates found the three charges proved beyond all reasonable doubt and convicted the company.

HSE investigating inspector Stephen Hartley, said: "Contractors are expected to organise and plan work at height effectively, and take appropriate measures to prevent people falling. Where standards are poor HSE will prosecute those responsible, even if there has been no injury as in this case."