Constructions Firms Urged To Keep Workers Safe

A contractor based in London has been fined £100,000 after a failure to plan a building operation on a property in Belgravia led to a work accident and the death of an employee.

Brazilian-born worker Arlindo Visentin suffered fatal crush injuries in June 2007 when a wall of gravel and clay weighing up to five tonnes collapsed at a private property.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive revealed that temporary works needed to support the earth during the underpinning operation were not planned properly, so there was nothing in place to prevent the materials from falling.

Nadeem Aftab of Fulham was fined over the safety failings, as well as for not ensuring his workers were qualified and competent to undertake the work.

Commenting on the case, David Urpeth, national head of workplace injuries at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Health and safety is a vital part of the construction industry and devastating incidents like this demonstrate why such a focus is placed on them.

“Companies cannot afford to ignore the importance of ensuring workers are fully trained and prepared to carry out the duties they are tasked with, while they also need to be given access to the right tools.

“Lessons simply have to be learnt from this terrible industrial accident and I hope that all construction firms take note of the issues raised, which in turn should help to prevent anyone else from suffering in the same manner.”