NEWSFLASH IN THE COURTS


WESTFIELD IN COURT OVER


WORKER’S FALL The owners of the Westfield shopping centres have been fined after a worker suffered a fractured shoulder in a fall during construction of a roof extension at their White City site.


On the night of 20th December 2013, 39-year-old worker Brett Mason, of Sedgley, West Midlands, and a colleague were finishing work in preparation for the Christmas break and, in a final check of the plant deck, the two had a walk around to ensure all their materials were safely secured and not liable to blow off the roof in high winds.


As they were about to work on securing a duct, Mr Mason stepped back and fell through an unprotected 8m x 1m gap in the plant deck mesh flooring, landing on the roof deck two metres below. He sustained a dislocated and fractured right shoulder and was unable to work for six months.


SHEFFIELD BROTHERS JAILED AFTER BUILDING COLLAPSE


Two Sheffield brothers were jailed for safety failures after a building collapse left three injured, up to 20 people temporarily homeless, and nearby properties evacuated.


Naveed and Rizwan Hussain were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) at Sheffield Crown Court following the collapse of a


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LADDER FALL ENDS IN FINE FOR


STOCKPORT FIRM Stockport-based Solutions SK Ltd has been fined after a worker sustained a broken heel when he fell from a ladder while installing cables for an alarm system.


As the man started to descend the ladder, it slipped. He jumped from it and sustained a fractured heel. He was off work for six months. HSE investigated the incident, which happened on 26th September 2013, and decided to prosecute.


HSE’s investigation found the worker’s fall could have been easily avoided had edge protection been placed around the gap, as is the accepted practice to protect workers operating at height.


Westfield Shoppingtowns Ltd, of MidCity Place, High Holborn, London, was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £1,247 in costs after admitting a breach of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.


three-storey terrace in Brook Hill on 23rd March 2013.


Two residents and a builder suffered minor injuries and the immediate area had to be evacuated when the front of the property and the flats on the two upper floors caved in.


HSE told the court it was ‘remarkable’ that no one had been killed given the extent of the collapse. The property, formerly Butler’s Balti House, was so dangerous after the incident it had to be demolished by Sheffield Council.


The court heard the two ‘incompetent’ brothers had destabilised the structure of the building while refurbishing the basement. HSE’s investigation found the central wall between 192 and 194 Brook Hill had collapsed due to the Hussains’ poorly-planned and badly-managed


Solutions SK Ltd, registered address Enterprise House, Oakhurst Drive, Cheadle Heath, pleaded guilty at Macclesfield Magistrates’ Court to a breach of Regulation 4(1)(a) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, in that it failed to properly plan work at height.


HSE found no specific risk assessment and no procedure in place to ensure work at height was adequately planned.


refurbishment project. Crucially, they had no controls in place to support the building while it was being modified.


Rizwan Hussain, 39, of Rutland Road, Sheffield, was given a 12 month custodial sentence and a fine of £42,000 with £40,000 in costs after pleading guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, a breach of the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2007 and a breach of two Prohibition Notices issued to him on 15th May 2013.


Naveed Hussain, 33, Pitsmoor Road, Sheffield, was given a 12 month custodial sentence and fined £40,000 with £60,000 to pay in costs after admitting a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and a separate breach of the same Construction Regulations.


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