Firm fined over asbestos clean-up…

Contractor fined after using vacuum cleaner on asbestos A Norwich-based contractor has been fined £90,000 for carrying out unlicensed asbestos cleaning work. Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard how the company began a project to refurbish parts of Rose Lane Business Centre in Norwich, including a former kitchen and canteen. Works started in late April 2015 and…Read moreRead more

Demolition chief pleads guilty…

Former Cleveland demolition bureau chief pleads guilty to extorting, accepting bribes. The city of Cleveland’s former demolition bureau chief has admitted to soliciting and accepting thousands of dollars in bribes from contractors in exchange for a leg up in obtaining city jobs. Rufus Taylor pleaded guilty to extortion and bribery in a federally funded program….Read moreRead more

Director jailed over unplanned collapse…

Developer employed unskilled workers with no demolition experience. A property developer has been jailed for eight months after the roof and part of the rear wall collapsed at one of his buildings during demolition work. Manchester Crown Court was told that Riaz Ahmad had hired a group of workers, who had no experience in construction,…Read moreRead more

Another accident, another massive fine…

Two companies fined half a million pounds after worker left paralysed Fines of more than half a million pounds have been handed down to two companies involved in an accident in which a worker was left permanently paralysed, losing the use of his legs. Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 5 November 2015, Mr Marcel…Read moreRead more

HSE fine fires HAVs warning…

Balfour Beatty hit with half a million pound penalty. Balfour Beatty has been fined £500,000 after workers in its utilities business were put at risk of developing hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) over a nine-year period. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that between 2002 and 2011 Balfour Beatty failed to minimise the…Read moreRead more

Fined for asbestos failings…

Prosecution last month hands down negligible penalty. A demolition company based in Ryde on the Isle of Wight and its director have been fined for storing asbestos illegally at Rosemary Copse Farm. Ryde Demolition Company Ltd was fined £12,500 with a victim surcharge of £170 and costs of £4,000, while its director, Neil Harrison, was…Read moreRead more

Comment – A dangerous precedent…

Massive fine could be merely the tip of the iceberg. Yesterday’s story about the monumental fine handed down to Mick George Ltd gained traction the moment I hit the upload button. In its first hour online, the story passed the 100 reads, 500 reads and 1,000 reads milestones faster than any other story this year….Read moreRead more

Mick George Ltd hit with hefty fine…

Firm fined after tipper came into contact with overhead power lines. Northampton Crown Court heard that on 9 March 2016 a driver employed by Mick George Ltd was emptying a load of soil from his tipper vehicle at a site in Northampton. Mick George Ltd had already identified the need for Permanent Protection Structures (goalposts)…Read moreRead more

Firm fined over scaffolder injury…

Worker struck by concrete panel during link bridge demolition. A demolition company has been fined after a worker suffered multiple injuries when he was struck by a concrete spandrel panel. Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how Vale Park Demolition Services Limited was contracted to demolish a link bridge structure at Littleborough Primary School, Rochdale. On 29…Read moreRead more

Jail sentence for waste criminal…

Persistent waste criminal jailed for 26 months. An estimated 26,000 cubic metres of waste was taken to an airfield in the West Midlands to be dumped, buried or burned illegally during the offending period. The waste consisted mainly of construction and demolition materials, including aluminum products which is classified as hazardous. In a case brought…Read moreRead more