Health and safety endangered in Esher construction accident
A company based in Esher has been fined £110,000 for serious health and safety problems that led to the near-death of a construction worker. Landmark Groundworks has also been ordered to pay almost half that amount in costs, leading to total damages of £160,000.
The injured workman was Bola Akinola, a 48-year old employee who fell several metres during a general collapse of concrete and steel – some nine tonnes’ worth. Mr Akinola suffered several fractures that affected his legs, arm, and pelvic area and caused him to be hospitalised for weeks. Almost a year elapsed before Mr Akinola was able to work again, and even now, he still must contend with a left arm that lacks full mobility.
The HSE investigated and prosecuted, leading to a trial which lasted nine days at Maidstone Crown Court. Testimony established that Mr Akinola was working to build a basement that would be located next door to a vacant house in the process of refurbishment. Landmark Groundworks was responsible for providing steelwork, but when concrete floor planks were placed on a steel beam that had not been properly secured on one end, the tilting beam caused Mr Akinola to fall.
According to the HSE, Landmark Groundworks did not pay attention to suggestions from structural engineers and had failed to adhere to industry standards for such work. Health and safety training companies skilled in issues related to construction could have helped to prevent the tragedy.
John Underwood, HSE inspector, commented: “It is completely unacceptable for a main contractor, Landmark Groundworks Ltd, to allow work to continue with a botched design, and with no checks carried out on either the design or the installation.”
