Plunge brings massive fine for builders

AN Oldham building firm has been fined £50,000 following a man’s plunge from the second-floor of a partially-built house

The 53 year old Oldham friend of a workman suffered brain damage and spinal injuries in the fall and will require care for the rest of his life.

Global Constructions (Northwest) Ltd was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following an investigation into the incident on Frederick Street in Oldham in September 2013.

Manchester Crown Court heard the company had been building 12 large houses when a friend of one of the workers came to the site. He couldn’t find anyone in the site cabin and foun two men laying floorboards on the second floor. He climbed ladders to get to them and stood on a sheet of plywood over the stairwell. It gave way and he crashed to the concrete floor, suffering significant head and spinal injuries.

The HSE investigation found there was no security guard or company employee to monitor site visitors.

The building site was found to be unsafe, and the plywood covering the staircase was only18cm wider than the hole - leaving a high risj it would shift when stood on.

Global Construction, of Alexandra Road, Oldham, was fined £50,000 with £8,595 costs after pleading guilty to two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act