A construction company has been fined after HSE inspectors observed unsafe working at height practices and identified unsafe crane operations during a routine inspection.
Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court heard how on 15 October 2019, a routine inspection in Malvern, Worcestershire, discovered a crane in an unsafe position alongside a road. The mobile crane was being used in an inappropriate position, on a slope. There was no plan to carry out the lifting operation nor a competent lift supervisor. This put workers and the public at risk. A temporary platform was also installed on scaffolding with no additional edge protection. Additional edge protection is required by the Work at Height Regulations to prevent falls from height.
A Prohibition Notice (PN) was served immediately in response to the work at height breach and a Notification of Contravention and Improvement Notices (IN) were served in relation to planning for work at height and planning for lifting operations.
J F Wright Ltd of Brecon Close, Droitwich, Worcestershire pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and Regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. They were fined £64,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,926.