Daniel Taylor Builder and Architectural Woodworker Limited has been fined £20,000 for several health and safety failings at a building site in Alderley Edge
An inspection by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), on the 9th October 2020, found several health and safety failings at a building site where works were taking place to convert an old bank into offices on London Road in Alderley Edge.
The health and safety failings included several areas where workers could have fallen from height, a risk of exposure to hazardous substances, and inadequate welfare facilities.
Daniel Taylor Builder and Architectural Woodworker Limited, was served with three Prohibition Notices prohibiting unsafe activities and five Improvement Notices requiring the company to take remedial action to comply with the law.
The company director failed to implement health and safety measures despite previous HSE interventions
Further investigation found that the company had previously been the subject of enforcement action relating to unsafe work at height at both its construction sites and joinery workshop. The investigation also found company director, David Taylor, was acting as site manager at the London Road site and had failed to ensure the necessary health and safety measures were implemented to protect employees and others, despite the previous HSE interventions.
Daniel Taylor Builder and Architectural Woodworker Limited, of Wheelwrights Yard, Congleton, Cheshire, pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was fined £20,000 following its early guilty plea, and ordered to pay £1,507.71 in costs at South Cheshire Magistrates’ Court on 8 February 2023.
David William Taylor, of New Road, Congleton, Cheshire, pleaded guilty to breaching section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Mr Taylor, 77, was fined £10 by the district judge taking into account totality of sentencing this defendant as a director of the company, his early guilty plea, positive references and his cooperation with HSE enforcement action. He was ordered to pay £1,507.71 in costs at South Cheshire Magistrates’ Court on 8 February 2023.
HSE will not hesitate to prosecute companies for repeated breaches of the law
HSE inspector Sinead Martin said: “This type of proactive prosecution will highlight to the construction industry that HSE will not hesitate to prosecute companies for repeated breaches of the law.
“Good management of health and safety on site is crucial to the successful delivery of a construction project and principal contractors have an important role in managing the risks of construction work and ensuring that safety measures are implemented.”
35 deaths by falls from height were reported in 2021/22
Falls from height accounted for 24% of fatal workplace injuries between 2021 and 2022 according to statistics from the Health & Safety Executive agency’s annual figures document.
Fatalities & life-changing injuries can still occur when a fall from height is less than two metres
Over 60% of deaths working at height involve falling from ladders, scaffolds, platforms or roof edges, and falling through fragile roofs or roof lights.
Over the years, insurers have seen significant claims from a fall from height. You can find information on Construction & Development Insurance, such as liability insurance when working at height here.
HSE guidance covering working at height can be found at: Work at height – HSE
