A construction company has been fined for safety failings after workers were found sleeping on the site of an eight-storey conversion project in Essex.

RGB (Plastering and Construction) Limited, of Monkmoor Road Shrewsbury, pleaded guilty/not guilty to breaching Regulation 29(a) and (c) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

It was fined £8,000 with £6,130 in costs.

It is understood the company was carrying out construction work to convert an eight-storey former Ford office block into 384 flats at Trafford House, Station Way in Basildon.

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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was contacted by the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) on 26 May 2015 over concerns that men were sleeping on the site.

A joint inspection with ECFRS found numerous safety failings on site. HSE concluded there was a significant risk to life in the event of a fire and issued a prohibition notice preventing workers from sleeping on site.

A total of 48 employees had to be re-housed into safer sleeping accommodation. At the same time of the inspection, around 120 men were working across the site.

A second prohibition notice closed the entire site until appropriate steps had been taken to protect all workers from the dangers posed by fire.

HSE Inspector Adam Hills said: "This case highlights the importance of ensuring those who undertake construction work have the relevant skills, knowledge, training and experience to do so.

"There doesn't have to be an injury or incident for HSE to take action. If you irresponsibly endanger the lives of those who are simply trying to earn a living then HSE can and will take proactive action to protect them."

(LM/MH)