Fire Safety Failing at Construction Site Led to Prosecutions
Fines Imposed for Numerous Breaches
A building contactor and director of London based S&S Quality Building Contractors have been fined £600,00 and £4,200, respectively, for repeated fire safety failings at a construction site in London.
Sleeping on Site
Following an HSE inpection of Brentwood House in Essex in January 2018, it was found that S&S Quality Building Contractors Limited had breached several fire management regulations and had put workers andmembers of the public who were visiting show flats outside of business hours at serious risk. It was also revelaled that individuals had been sleeping on the site.
Further Investigations
Additional investigations by the HSE and Essex Fire and Rescue Service revealed poor management and construction work being carried out in an unsafe manner, which "could have resulted in a fire". Shlomo Pines, the company director, made regular visits to the Regent House site but failed to carry out any of the recommendations for improvement.
The construction firm has been subject to several HSE interventions after fire risks were discovered across a number of sites over several years.
HSE Statement
Prentiss Clarke-Jones, HSE Inspector, said: "S&S Quality Building Contractors Limited completely ignored the importance of fire safety measures on a construction site led by a director who wilfully chose to ignore the risks despite evidence he knew how to make things safe. This resulted in a site where risks were also ignored by his workers. Follow the guidance, get competent advice, and take responsibility that the law requires at the very least, or someone may get hurt, which thankfully did not eventuate here."
The Hearing
At a hearing at Basildon Crown Court on 25 October 2022, the company pleaded guilty to breaching 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £600,000, plus costs amounting to £36,894. Pines also pleaded guilty to "contravening Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 7974". The company director was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service and fined £4,200.