Construction firms fined combined GBP 250,000

Two construction companies have been prosecuted after health and safety breaches led to the death of an employee.

PC Richardson has been fined £100,000 plus £25,000 in costs after failing to prevent Neil Cannon from unnecessary exposure to risks.

Sellafield will pay £200,500 for its role in the accident, which occurred during the decommissioning process of one of its pile chimneys.

Mr Cannon fell 95m while working at height due to a lack of compliance with established safe practice.

The employee was required to leave the platform constructed inside the structure due to a change in the proposed method and this left him exposed to an unprotected edge.

Principal inspector for the Health and Safety Executive Mark Cottriall claims the accident could easily have been avoided.

He says: "Ongoing monitoring of the work in progress should have identified the changes and the increased risk."

Earlier in the month, E and F Joinery was prosecuted over a working at heightaccident and was fined £20,000 plus costs.