A steel fabrication company has been prosecuted after a sub-contractor was killed during work to deliver the Frances Crick Institute building in London.

CMF Ltd of Central Way, Feltham, Middlesex has pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It has been fined £185,000 with over £20,606 in costs.

Southwark Crown Court heard CMF had contracted 31-year-old Richard Laco to work on the multi-million pound scheme. However, he was fatally crushed 2013 by a concrete staircase that was in the process of being installed on 06 November 2013.


A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found there was no safe system of work in place for the installation of the staircases throughout this project. In addition, CMF failed to appropriately supervise this work activity.

HSE inspector Stephen Farthing said: "This incident could have been prevented if the company had properly planned the lifting process before work had begun.

"Duty holders have the responsibility of ensuring that safe and suitable lifting plans are in place before carrying out any work involved with heavy loads."

(LM/MH)