Prosecution followed an investigation by the Office of Rail & Road (ORR) into an incident on 22nd September 2014, when a worker fell 9.5 metres while cleaning a former lift shaft at the old South Kentish Town station. The worker suffered a number of injuries and spent 10 days in hospital.
London Underground was found to have failed to properly plan, manage and supervise the work. The tower scaffold was wrongly assembled and its stability had not been assessed.
London Underground pleaded guilty to the charge at Blackfriars Magistrates’ Court on 7th October 2016. On 2nd December it was fined £500,000 and ordered to pay an additional £50,000 costs.
HM principal inspector of railways Keith Atkinson said: “In 2014, London Underground’s failure to properly plan, manage or supervise maintenance work at the disused station in South Kentish Town, led to a worker spending ten days in hospital, and could have been fatal.
“London Underground has a good safety record, but this incident highlights why there can be no room for complacency.
“Safety remains a top priority for the rail regulator. We will always take action against companies or individuals where failings are found.”
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