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Essex County Fire & Rescue Service contacted the Health & Safety Executive on 26th May 2015 to share concerns about men sleeping on the construction site at Trafford House, Station Way, Basildon, Essex.
The HSE carried out a joint inspection with the fire service the same day and found numerous failings on site. HSE concluded that there was a significant risk to life in the event of a fire and issued a prohibition notice preventing workers from sleeping on site.
The 48 workers had to be re-housed into safer sleeping accommodation. A second prohibition notice closed the entire site until the appropriate steps had been taken to protect workers from the dangers posed by fire.
RGB (Plastering & Construction) Limited, of Monkmoor Road Shrewsbury, was fined £8,000 for breaching Regulation 29(a) and (c) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. It was also and ordered to pay costs of £6,130.
After the hearing HSE inspector Adam Hills said: “This case highlights the importance of ensuring those who undertake construction work have the relevant skills, knowledge, training and experience to do so.
“There doesn’t have to be an injury or incident for HSE to take action. If you irresponsibly endanger the lives of those who are simply trying to earn a living then HSE can and will take proactive action to protect them.”
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