Essex construction firm in court for health and safety breach

An inspector from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited the company’s site at Camper Road in Southend on 26 March 2014 and issued an Improvement Notice after finding sub-standard facilities for workers on site.

Dantel Construction was prosecuted at Southend Magistrates’ court on 7 January after it failed to respond to HSE’s enforcement action by improving the welfare facilities for workers. Two months after the date of compliance of the Improvement Notice, they still hadn’t brought standards up to an acceptable level.

Dantel Construction, of Wantz Road, Dagenham, was fined £ 2000 and ordered to pay £1940 in costs after pleading guilty to a breach of Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work act.

Health and Safety inspector Adam Hills said: “Construction workers have the right to sanitary and welfare facilities including having an adequate supply of hot and cold running water. There is really no excuse to subject workers to pre-Victorian conditions. Sadly, however, these basic requirements are too often neglected. A cold water tap and toilet on their own are not adequate. Decent facilities will positively benefit health and well-being and help prevent ailments and infection.”