Balfour Beatty fined over safety failings

Balfour Beatty Regional Construction Limited has been fined by Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court after a worker was seriously injured on a construction site in Branksome, Poole, Dorset.

The firm was the main contractor in the building of three blocks of flats in Poole. The court heard how, on 6 May 2014, a load of 15 sound bloc boards, (similar to plaster boards) weighing a total of 544 kilograms, were being transported by a crane. They were being moved to the second lift loading bay at the front of one of the tower blocks from the fourth floor at the rear of the building.

As the boards were being lowered, the retaining slings containing them became snagged on a scaffold standard. As a result the load fell out, and struck an employee working below. He was badly injured, suffering fractured ribs and a broken leg.

Fines

Bournemouth Magistrate’s Court fined Balfour Beatty Regional Construction Limited, of Wilton Road a total of £22,000 and ordered the firm to pay £16,089 in costs. Balfour Beatty had pleaded guilty to offences under Regulation 8(1)(a,b,c) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.

If you have been a victim of an accident at a construction site and you think that it was a result of health and safety failings, don’t hesitate to contact us. Similarly, if you have been involved in any accident in the workplace get in touch for free advice about your options, on 0800 888 6888 or email [email protected]

Source: HSE