The managing director of a construction company has been prosecuted and fined after an inspector found “appalling” site safety on a demolition site controlled by the company. Failures included employees at work on a roof without any edge protection, no asbestos survey in place (asbestos was later found when a survey was conducted), no safe system of work in place, poor welfare facilities on-site, ad-hoc demolition practices far below the industry standard, and inadequate supervision and planning.

The director admitted two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and his company pleaded guilty to one breach of the Act and a further breach of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. The director was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,044. The court decided not to impose a separate penalty on his company.