A construction company has been fined for safety failings at site in London.

RS Construction UK (London) Limited, of International House, Regents Street, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 17(1)(a) and 22(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

It was fined £40,000; £20,000 for each offence, with £1,486 in costs.

Westminster Magistrates' Court heard how the company was working at the construction site on St Dionis Road in the capital.

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An inspection by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) discovered an excavation directly behind the front door, which was the only entrance and exit for the site.

The excavation was approximately 3.5 meters deep with no means of shoring to support its sides and had no edge protection around the top to stop persons, materials or objects falling into it.

In addition, there was a worker at the bottom of the excavation who was instructed to exit the cavity.

An investigation by the HSE found RS Construction had received previous enforcement action for similar risks on other sites and still failed to ensure suitable and sufficient safe access to the construction site.

In addition, it had also failed to ensure all practicable steps were taken to prevent danger to any person from working in the excavation.

(LM)