Demolition company fined for unsafe work at height

A demolition company from Nottinghamshire has been fined for safety failings following a report to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Leicester Magistrates’ Court heard how Prodem Demolition and Asbestos Limited were removing tiles from a domestic property when they were reported to the HSE for unsafe work at height activity.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident, which occurred on 16 July 2015 discovered that workers had been found on a steep roof removing tiles without any form of equipment or protection to prevent them falling off the roof.

The risks from such work are well known and should be controlled using simple but effective measures. They had planned to work from a basket of a mobile elevated work platform or cherry picker. However, the company did not follow their plan, putting the workers at significant risk of falling and risk of serious injury.

Prodem Demolition and Asbestos Limited, of Western Boulevard, Aspley, Nottinghamshire pleaded guilty to Regulation 13(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay costs of £765.

For further information on working at height visit: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/demolition.htm