Charges have been levied at a timber frame firm for breaching a Prohibition Notice from the Health and Safety Executive…
Prosecutions have been brought against the Timber Frame Company Ltd after the firm breached a Prohibition Notice produced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The case, which was brought before Oxford Magistrates’ Court, revealed that the company was contracted to work at premises which formed a “country retreat”. However, the work at height was found to be unsafe.
An inspector from the HSE visited the site and discovered work at height was being undertaken at 3m above the ground without adequate precautions in place. At this point a formal Prohibition Notice was issued, ordering the company to stop work.
A subsequent investigation revealed the work had not been planned sufficiently nor carried out safely. The measures in place to prevent workers from falling were deemed unsuitable and insufficient.
Furthermore, the HSE also found the Prohibition Notice it had served was ignored and further work was carried out at the same location the following day.
The Timber Frame Company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. This makes it an offence to contravene any requirement or prohibition imposed by an improvement notice or a Prohibition Notice.
The company received a fine of £8,000 and was ordered to pay costs totalling £1,133.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Peter Snelgrove said: “If HSE visits a construction site and has to issue a prohibition notice preventing further work, that shows there is a very real and immediate risk to workers.
“This case should act as a warning to other construction firms. The notices that HSE serve are legally enforceable and companies will find themselves in court if they fail to take action.”
