Thorndyke Developments was fined £100,000 and a site director was given a suspended prison sentence after a worker was crushed to death on site
None of the necessary precautions were taken by management
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the demolition work was not planned nor accounted for in the construction phase plan, which could have prevented Jakub’s death.
No risk assessment or method statement was provided and Jakub was not trained to carry out safe demolitions.
There was also a lack of supervision as the system of work implemented by Thorndyke Developments Limited and North West Facilities Limited prohibited non-English-speaking workers from carrying out demolitions.
Those responsible for a site must ensure safe practices are carried out
David Peter Hartley, a director at North West Facilities Limited, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13(1) of The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, by virtue of 37(1) of the Act. Mr Hartley, of Trearddur Road, Holyhead, Anglesey was given 26 weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay £5,836 in costs at Wirral Magistrates’ Court on 15 December 2022.
Thorndyke Developments Limited, of Rodney Street, Liverpool pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. They were fined £100,000 and ordered to pay £8,401.59 in costs at Wirral Magistrates’ Court on 15 December 2022.
HSE inspector Christine McGlynn said on the outcome of the hearing on the worker crushed to death on site: “HSE will not hesitate to consider the roles of not only organisations when investigating serious incidents, but also those individuals such as directors and managers who are the controlling minds and best placed to direct work and ensure that it is carried out without risks to health and safety.”
