Multiple Site Failures Land Property Developer £45k Fine

A Cheshire property developer has been fined £45,000 after the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found multiple failures at a construction site in Manchester.

Numerous health and safety failings were found during a site inspection at a home build project being undertaken by Stockport Development Limited on Kingsley Road, Manchester, in November 2023.

The HSE inspection found missing edge protection on first floor landings, missing and damaged security fencing, a lack of fire alarms and extinguishers, heavily obstructed walkways, and inadequate welfare provision for workers.

This resulted in four Improvement Notices being served, requiring the company to take action to comply with the law and protect its workers and members of the public.

Previous Warnings Ignored

When it was established that there had been four previous visits to the company’s construction sites between February 2021 and March 2023, all of which resulted in enforcement action being taken in relation to poor health and safety standards, an investigation was launched by HSE.

The investigation established that the company had repeatedly failed to fulfil its principal contractor duties and had failed to take heed of previous warnings and advice given by HSE inspectors.

Principal contractors have a responsibility to plan, manage and monitor construction work to ensure that it is carried out without risks to health or safety, says HSE. Further guidance can be found here: Managing health and safety in construction – HSE.

Property Developer Fined

Stockport Development Limited, of Bird Hall Lane, Stockport, Cheshire, pleaded guilty to a breach of regulation 13(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The company was ordered to pay a fine of £45,000 plus surcharge of £18,000 and costs of £6,297 at Manchester Magistrates court on Friday 12 December.

Total Disregard for Safety

HSE Inspector Claire Whitehurst said: “This company showed a total disregard for keeping its workers and members of the public safe by failing to meet the most basic health and safety standards.

“Principal contractors have a responsibility to ensure they identify and manage risks involved in construction work, and to put safe systems in place to protect all who may be affected by their undertaking.

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action, including prosecution, against those that fall below the required standards, even where no incident has occurred.”

>> Read about more construction court cases in the news