Features

Demolition firm fined after worker cracks skull and second man breaks back in fall

By on

A demolition contractor has been fined £134,000 after two men fell 7m at a derelict nightclub, suffering serious injuries.


Cheshire Demolition and Excavation Contractors Limited was demolishing the derelict nightclub in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, when the incident happened on 15 November 2016.

Greater Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how the two workers had climbed into a pick bin, lifted by an excavator arm. When it suddenly released, both men were ejected from the bin and fell onto a pile of bricks and rubble. One worker suffered a fractured skull, and a second worker sustained a broken back.

The company, of Moss Lane, Macclesfield, was fined with £6,303.04 for breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It was ordered to pay £6,303.04 costs.

HSE found in its investigation that Cheshire Demolition and Excavation Contractors Limited did not properly plan the work and failed to provide suitable access equipment.

The company had provided a scissor lift on site, but decided to remove it from the site prior to the incident. The operatives had no other means of accessing areas at height.

Investigating HSE inspector David Argument said: “These risks could so easily have been avoided if the work at height was properly planned and appropriately supervised. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards”.

FEATURES


Sun Safety Photo SC Johnson Professional

Facing the facts: protecting your outdoor workforce from UV exposure and skin cancer

By SC Johnson Professional on 11 July 2025

With outdoor workers at significant risk of skin damage, ageing and cancer due to exposure to the sun’s UV rays, it’s essential that employers in sectors like construction and agriculture create a working environment where sun safety precautions become the norm, rather than the exception.



Tall Building MED Istock 173901079 Credit Richardwatson

2025 UK fire safety regulation updates: a quick guide

By Chloe Miller on 11 July 2025

The regulatory landscape covering fire safety arrangements and structural features in domestic and commercial buildings has undergone a number of significant changes in recent years, making it essential for responsible persons to review their approach to keeping residents, workers and the nearby public safe from the risk of fire. 



Fire Door MED Istock 505571528 Credit Cholwanich

Tackling new fire risks as Fire Door Safety Week celebrates 12th year

By Helen Hewitt, British Woodworking Federation on 11 July 2025

The British Woodworking Federation’s annual Fire Door Safety Week this September will encourage duty holders such as those in charge of residential buildings to consider the dangers from lithium-ion batteries and ensure fire doors remain fit for purpose in reducing the risk should a battery-related fire break out.