Property firm prosecuted following workplace injury

Health & Safety update 03/06/2011

A property development company has been prosecuted by the HSE following a serious workplace accident.

A 46-year old man employed by London-based Nabiganj Investment Company Ltd was almost paralysed in the accident, which took place in a Hackney warehouse in October 2009.

The workers was standing on an incomplete tower scaffold five metres up in the air when he fell and suffered severe head, pelvis and spine injuries. He now has problems walking. The subsequent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the firm had failed to implement proper safety measures which could have prevented the accident.

The firm was also found to have disregarded asbestos hazards, failing to carry out an asbestos survey prior to starting demolition work. Nabiganj Investment Company Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 (1) (a), Regulation 10, Regulation 14(1) and Regulation 16(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.

The firm was fined £37,500 alongside costs of £5,459.90. Eileen Gascoigne, HSE inspector said, “A vulnerable worker was left with devastating injuries as a result of the consistently poor attitude to safety this company has displayed.

“This is an experienced property development firm. It has had previous enforcement action taken against it by the HSE relating to similar issues during construction work. Once again in avoiding its responsibilities, it has put the safety and health of at least six vulnerable workers at unnecessary risk,” she added.