An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the contractor, Mr Bodnariu, client company WEL Estates Limited and its director, Mr Yoel Lew were found guilty of breaching health and safety regulations in 2015 for a construction site on Gladesmore Road, London which was found too dangerous to work on
Inspectors found poor health and safety conditions including dangerous work at height, unshored excavations, and poor welfare facilities. This led to numerous warnings and notifications of contravention being served on the contractor and client.
Southwark Crown Court heard that the contractor, Mr Bodnariu, failed to plan, manage and monitor the work on site, while WEL Estates Limited failed to make suitable arrangements for managing a project.
The director of WEL Estates Limited, Mr Yoel Lew, was found to have allowed poor conditions on site.
Mr Bodnariu pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 15(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, and was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, 250 hours of community service, and ordered to pay costs of £1,000.
WEL Estates Limited was found guilty of breaching Regulations 4(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, and was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,000.
Mr Yoel Lew was found guilty of breaching Section 37(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and sentenced to 200 hours of Community Service.
Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Sarah Robinson said: “Dutyholders should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. The organisation investigates work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses.
