The principal contractor of a large construction project in London has been fined £185k after the death of 31-year-old sub-contractor Richard Laco.
Southwark Crown Court heard that Richard had been contracted by CMF Ltd to work on the Frances Crick Institute project but was fatally crushed on 6 November 2013 by a concrete staircase that was in the process of being installed.
A HSE investigation revealed that there was no safe system of work in place for the installation of the staircases throughout the project, and that the company failed to appropriately supervise this work activity.
CMF Ltd of Central Way, Feltham, Middlesex pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and was fined £185,000 and ordered to pay costs of £20,606.14.
Commenting after the hearing HSE inspector Stephen Farthing said: “This incident could have been prevented if the company had properly planned the lifting process before work had begun.
“Duty holders have the responsibility of ensuring that safe and suitable lifting plans are in place before carrying out any work involved with heavy loads.”
