A major UK housebuilding firm has been fined £800,000 following a serious incident in which a teenage apprentice suffered injuries when a temporary stairwell covering gave way on a construction site.
The 17-year-old apprentice bricklayer had been working on a large housing development in Weston-Super-Mare when the incident occurred. While placing concrete blocks onto the first floor of one of the new homes, he stepped onto an area covered by timber sheeting laid over joists – a temporary structure intended to be removed before a staircase was fitted. The covering collapsed beneath him, causing both the apprentice and approximately 20kg of blocks to fall more than two metres to the ground below.
The apprentice sustained injuries to his fingers, hand, wrist and shoulder. Fortunately, he avoided more serious harm – but an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the incident could, and should, have been prevented.
A Preventable Incident
The HSE concluded that the temporary structure had not been adequately supported. Although the company’s own Health and Safety manual had repeatedly stated the need for back propping of such areas, this crucial safety step had been missed on the specific plot where the incident took place.
This oversight amounted to a breach of Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which requires employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that individuals not in their direct employment – including contractors and apprentices – are not exposed to risks to their health or safety.
In addition to the £800,000 fine, the company was ordered to pay court costs of £6,240.25 and a victim surcharge of £2,000.
Why Strong Health and Safety Systems Are Essential
This case underlines a fundamental truth: robust Health and Safety processes are not optional extras – they are essential safeguards, particularly in high-risk environments such as construction sites.
Construction involves numerous dynamic risks, including working at height, heavy materials, and incomplete structures. It is imperative that companies have clear procedures in place for identifying, assessing and controlling these risks – and that these procedures are properly implemented on every site, without exception.
In this instance, a young apprentice – less than a year into his career – suffered injuries that could have had lifelong consequences. While he was fortunate to escape more serious harm, the case highlights how easily things can go wrong when safety systems are not followed.
The HSE inspector involved in the case commented:
“Any work involving structural stability is potentially high risk and proper planning and implementation should be given. This incident could have been avoided had the right steps been taken.”
Lessons for the Industry
This prosecution serves as a reminder to all organisations operating in the construction sector: ensuring the safety of all workers, including apprentices and subcontractors, is a legal and moral responsibility.
At Consult CPK, we work closely with clients to help design and embed effective Health and Safety management systems. These not only ensure compliance with legislation such as the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, but also foster a culture where safety is an integral part of day-to-day operations.
Whether you’re managing a large development or a single-site project, make sure your Health and Safety procedures are up to standard – lives and livelihoods depend on it.
If you’d like support reviewing or improving your construction site safety practices, contact us today.
