Saleh Properties prosecuted by the HSE for unsafe demolition practices

Leicester firm Saleh Properties Ltd. of North Evington have been fined £4,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,084 after the lives of their workforce and the general public were put at risk on a demolition site.

A HSE inspection of the Orson Street factory during demolition work found a number of serious issues. Structural components of the building had been removed meaning the building was in danger of collapsing at any time. Workers were also not using the correct safety equipment when working on the roof of the building - the same building that could collapse at any moment.

The HSE had no choice but to close down the site and prosecute Saleh Properties. In courst the company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 9 (1)(a) and 28 (2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and two breaches of Regulation 6 (3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

Inspector Stephen Farthing said:

"Saleh Properties showed a horrendous disregard for health and safety which was not only putting workers at risk, but also passing members of the public going about their daily lives. There was a real danger of this building collapsing.

The site supervisor had no training in health and safety, no method statements or risk assessments had been carried out before the work started and there were no welfare facilities for workers.

To run a construction company in this manner is wholly unacceptable and this prosecution shows that HSE will clamp down on small construction companies failing to adhere to basic health and safety regulations."

Source: HSE and The Construction Index