Contractor fined for leaving roof workers without edge protection
Construction company Ron Richardson Construction has been fined £18,000 for failing to protect employees as they worked on a flat roof in Blackpool.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company did not provide edge protection to prevent a fall and had not trained their workers adequately. Two employees moved to complete the waterproofing work from the roof in July 2019 because the equipment they were given did not allow them to complete the work from the ground. The workers were also not being monitored as they carried out the work at height.
A CONTRACTOR recklessly disturbed asbestos causing potential exposure to unknowing workers and caused nearly £50,000 of electrical damage during a demolition. Blackpool Magistrates’ Court heard how a company belonging to Peter Andrew Walling of Arley Rise, Mellor, had been contracted to demolish a former medical centre in Blackburn and clear the land ready for development. Between 15 November and 6 December 2018, four separate incidents occurred on site when an excavator operated by Walling, caused damage to underground cables and a sub-station which caused loss of electricity supplies to the local area and repair costs to the electricity supplier of £49,000. In addition to this, Mr Walling removed asbestos containing materials prior to an asbestos survey taking place, potentially exposing workers to asbestos.