A company has been prosecuted for carrying out unsafe excavation and lifting works, as well as not providing suitable welfare facilities for workers, during a refurbishment project in Salford.

Toft Construction, of Three Acres Lane, Cheadle Hume, Cheshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 15(11) and Regulation 2 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. It was fined £20,000 with over £5,176 in costs.

Greater Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how the firm was refurbishing a domestic property in Salford on 23 June 2016.

-- Advertisement --

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector visited the site and issued two prohibition notices (PNs) to the company when he found an unsupported, deep excavation in the front garden with insufficient controls to prevent members of the public accessing the hazard. In addition to a steel beam being lifted unsafely, the investigation discovered there were no toilet and washing facilities for workers on the site. After issuing an improvement notice for this, Toft failed to provide suitable and sufficient welfare facilities.

Overall, HSE found the company did not properly plan the lifting operations or carry it out safely. The firm also failed to take suitable and sufficient measures to prevent falls into the excavation and to fence it off to prevent risks to the public.

HSE inspector David Argument said: "These risks could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards."

(LM/MH)