A London-based construction firm and its director have been fined a total of £18,000 after they failed to comply with enforcement notices issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Director Vasilis Paraskeva and his company VNP Constructions Ltd were appointed to work on a project to convert a former pub and buildings into residential flats on White Lion Street, London.
However, HSE inspectors said during a visit to the site on 1 September 2022 they identified several issues including work at height risks and concerns about the competence of site management.
It led to prohibition and improvement notices being served on them.
Over the following 12 months, the HSE said its officials returned to the site and identified “additional breaches, demonstrating a continued failure to suitably plan, manage and monitor the work”.
As a result, the HSE issued further prohibition and improvement notices.
The HSE said that a subsequent investigation by its officers found that Paraskeva and VNP Constructions Ltd failed to comply with the requirements of multiple enforcement notices and failed to ensure work was carried out safely.
According to the HSE, VNP Constructions Ltd, of Kings Avenue, Winchmore Hill, London, pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 7 January to breaching Regulation 15(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and to two counts of failing to comply with a Prohibition Notice contrary to Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1971.
The company was fined £7,200 and ordered to pay £900 court costs, the HSE said.
At the same hearing, Paraskeva, of Kings Avenue, Winchmore Hill, London, pleaded guilty to three offences after accepting that the company committed the regulation breaches with his consent or due to his neglect under Section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
He was fined £10,800 and ordered to pay £900 in costs, the HSE said.
HSE inspector Andrew Pipe said: “These fines should send a clear message to the construction industry that HSE and the courts take failure to comply with enforcement notices extremely seriously.
“HSE will not hesitate to take action against companies and individuals who fail to keep people safe.”
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Nicola Harley