Labourer killed by falling steel prop

A labourer was killed when he was hit by a falling steel prop causing fatal internal injuries leading to two demolition companies to be fined a total of £115,000.

The Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) heard how Rafal Przestrzelski, 29, was employed as a labourer by demolition sub-contractor Bayoak Demo Ltd. The project was managed by John F Hunt Ltd, which acted as principal contractor.

Essex based John F Hunt Demolition Ltd and Bayoak Demo Ltd of London both pleaded guilty to Health and Safety breaches concerning the death of 29-year-old Rafal Przestrzelski in 2005.

During the demolition of Telstar House in Paddington, London on 25 July 2005, Rafal Przestrzelski was told to remove a number of steel (Acrow) props supporting a slab of concrete. Originally there were 13 props, but as each one was removed the load increased on the remainder until the final one was carrying the entire load. When the props were removed, the concrete slab fell to the ground and an overloaded prop struck Mr Przestrzelski causing fatal internal injuries.

The joint investigation between Metropolitan Police and Health and Safety Executive found a full structural survey of the section of the building being worked on was not undertaken. The investigation also discovered a section of a partially demolished link-bridge structure collapsed when the props supporting it were removed by Mr Przestrzelski. The investigation concluded that a collapse was inevitable as the structure was not physically tied onto the building as was assumed by the management.

On 27 January 2010 at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) John F Hunt Demolition Ltd of Grays in Essex pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974 and was fined £85,000 and ordered to pay £25,000 in costs.

Bayoak Demo Ltd, of Barking in London, also pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974, at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, on 1 February 2010. The company was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £8,000 in costs.

After the sentencing HSE Inspector Giles Meredith said: "This was a lengthy joint investigation between the Metropolitan Police and HSE, which found Rafal Przestrzelski was the innocent victim of a basic error of judgement by others that cost him his life.

Inspector Meredith concluded: "There are lessons to be learned both about the importance of carrying out detailed surveys and also about making sure that the right people are consulted at the right time. The price of making an ill-informed decision about the structure was enormous."

Howard Cohen, reviewing lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: "This case clearly demonstrates that there will be consequences for companies if they do not uphold the necessary safety standards. The breaches in this case had the most serious and tragic of outcomes. The CPS takes health and safety offences very seriously and will consider prosecution of any company that fails to protect employees and others with whom they come into contact."

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