A self-employed trader has been sentenced for safety failings during work at a domestic property in Bradford.

Mark Podstawski, 47, of Horton Bank Top in Bradford, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (2) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. He was sentenced to 200 hours of community service with over £918 in costs.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Mr Podstawski following an investigation into his work, which found poor planning, the absence of guard rails and a scaffold erected not in a recognised design. HSE said his methods put himself and others, including people on the ground, at risk.


HSE inspector Paul Thompson added Mr Podstawski had been served with a Prohibition Notice six months prior to the incident when he breached Work at Height Regulations for similar circumstances.

"This incident could and should have been prevented," he said.

"Scaffolding should always be erected to the appropriate standards and previous enforcement action should not be ignored."

(LM)