HSE fines builder £20,000 for floor collapse

Builder Excelcare Developments has been fined £20,000 after four workers were injured in a floor collapse at a building site in Bromley, south east London.

The incident happened in May 2003. The men suffered various injuries including spinal fractures, broken shoulders, fractured rubs and cuts and bruises. One of the workers has been unable to return to work and another still suffers from back pain.

Amanda Huff, HSE Inspector, said: "It is unacceptable that workers have to be seriously injured before companies realise that they have to comply with health and safety legislation.

“This incident could easily have been avoided by proper planning and by using a suitably experienced and trained workforce.”

The collapse happened while Excelcare was building a four-floor residential home for the elderly at Park Avenue, Bromley.

The second floor of the building, under construction, collapsed when two loads of concrete blocks were lifted on to it. Four workers on the second floor fell to the basement.

The London firm was also ordered to pay £7,500 in costs at the Central Criminal Court, after previously pleading guilty at the City of London Magistrates Court to breaching lifting regulations.

HSE has warned construction businesses about the need to ensure systems for lifting goods are safe, floors under construction are not overloaded, and to take measures to prevent falls from height.