17-03-2008
Road builder faces fine after prosecution by HSE
News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages.
A road building company has been fined after facing prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
A firm has been fined a total of £250,000 excluding costs, after being found to have breached Section 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The prosecution of the firm follows the death of an individual in 2005.
"This was a wholly avoidable incident which led to unnecessary loss of life," said John Underwood, an inspector for the HSE, an organisation funded by the Department for Work and Pensions.
"It is vital that contractors provide clear information to the travelling public on the approach to road works."
Indeed, according to data released by the organisation, over the last half decade a total of 12 members of the public have been killed in reportable incidents that were related to the road construction sector.
Consequently, the organisation believes that construction firms - who may employ tradesmen such as builders and plumbers - should ensure that construction projects are implemented with adequate procedures for planning, maintenance and inspection.