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Sisk and subcontractor fined for 2010 building collapse

18 Jan 16 More than five years after two men were injured in the collapse of a partly constructed cold store, the companies responsible have finally been brought to book.

John Sisk & Son Ltd was the principal contractor for fitting out a new distribution warehouse in Motherwell. Hemsec Installations Ltd (HIL) was subcontracted to design and construct a cold store structure.

Guy Davies (then aged 27) and Nayan Patel (20) were working for Sisk subsidiary Sitewatch on 12th October 2010 when the roof lids of the partly constructed cold store collapsed under them.

Hamilton Sheriff Court heard how Guy Davies suffered serious fractures to his thigh bones and his right kneecap. Nayan Patel suffered two fractures to his right arm requiring a metal plate, and a number of fractures to his foot.

John Sisk & Son Ltd, of Curo Park, Frogmore, St. Albans, was found guilty of an offence under Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and fined £64,000.

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HIL Installations Ltd (formerly known as Hemsec Installations Ltd) was found guilty of an offence under Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and fined £71,000.

HSE principal inspector Graeme McMinn said after the hearing: “The accident could have been prevented if Sisk had enforced their permit to work system and ensured that workers were not allowed access to the roof lid section until they received confirmation that the roof lid section had been installed correctly and was safe.

“HIL should have ensured that their subcontractor had installed the connections between the roof lid and cold store wall in line with the design specifications. They should also have checked that these connections were safe before allowing Sisk access to the roof lids.”

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