Contractor fined after 91-year-old seriously injured
A contractor has been in court after a pensioner was seriously injured when a metal construction fence collapsed, as she was walking past a site in east London.
What happened?
The 91-year-old was knocked to the floor by the two metre high fence, leaving her with a fractured shoulder and hip. She required a lengthy stay in hospital and now struggles with her mobility and independence.
An investigation into the incident found that the weather hadn’t been a factor on the day, but instead the fence was poorly installed and hadn’t been built or maintained to an approved design.
What was the outcome?
Fadil Adil, who was responsible for the fence as it surrounded a development he was working on to create flats and a commercial unit, pleaded guilty to breaching of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.
He was was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £3,000 in costs plus a further £5,000 in compensation.
HSE Inspector, Bernardine Cooney, said:
“The law clearly states that all temporary works, including fences
and hoardings, are properly designed, constructed and maintained
by competent people to ensure they are safe.
“This clearly wasn’t the case on this occasion and a pensioner was
seriously injured as a result. She could have been killed, and
the fence also posed a clear risk to other passers-by as
well as workers on the construction site it served.
“Fadil Adil could and should done more to prevent that risk as the
principal contractor responsible for the site.”
If you have been affected by an incident such as this, and you would like expert advice, contact Hampson Hughes Solicitors today on 0800 888 6888 or email
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