Two companies have been prosecuted for serious health and safety breaches during work on a large timber frame extension in Exmouth.

Coast & Country Construction Limited of Concord Road, Exmouth, were fined £150,000 with £6,039 in costs after being found guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) and 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company did not attend court and were found guilty in their absence.

Paul Humphries Architects Ltd of Salterton Road, Exmouth, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11 (1) and 11 (3) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regs 2015. The company was fined £20,000 with £6,039 in costs.

Exeter Magistrates' Court heard that concerns were raised in early 2016 over the lack of health and safety controls at a large timber frame extension being built onto Manor Lodge Residential Home in Exmouth.

Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited the site on 01 March 2016 and found numerous health and safety breaches. Uncontrolled high-risk activities were witnessed during the inspection that put workers at risk of death, serious injuries or ill health. The risks included falls from height, fire, slips and trips and poorly controlled wood dust.

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In addition, the inspection found there was a total disregard for health and safety and site management. In particular, the risk of fire spread associated with the construction of a timber frame extension adjoining an existing building. 80 physically and/or mentally impaired residents of the home were put at risk of injury or death due to the possibility of fire spreading into the home.

The work was also found to not have been properly planned, nor appropriately supervised or carried out in a safe manner. As principal contractor, Coast & Country Construction (formerly known as Make a Loft a Home) had a duty to control how the work was carried out and to ensure that the work would be completed safely. In addition, the timber frame extension work was designed by Paul Humphries Architects Ltd who had failed to perform their duties as the principal designer and failed to consider the risk of fire spread to the vulnerable residents.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Nicole Buchanan said: "Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of working."

"Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take enforcement action against those that fail to control workplace risks appropriately."

(LM/MH)