Recent Health and Safety prosecution resulted in imprisonment

A building company and its director have been sentenced after carrying out unsafe and unnecessary building work.

The company and its sole director were sentenced after a joint investigation by Trading Standards and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found a string of health and safety and fraud offences.

In one example an employee was employed to carry out building work on a domestic property. A complaint was made to Trading Standards who instructed an expert to examine the roof. The expert confirmed that the work was wholly unnecessary and that the work done had no value whatsoever. During the investigation Trading Standards also identified potential health and safety issues.

HSE inspectors found that the company was carrying out work at height without scaffolding and that there were no measures in place to prevent employees from falling.

In addition, people were walking on the roof of the house with no safety measures in place to prevent them from falling and the director was present and fully aware of the people working unsafely on the roof.

In another example the Court heard how the business was asked to carry out minor roofing repair work on a domestic property. After inspecting the roof the director advised the homeowner that the whole roof required replacing. A Trading Standards investigation, involving an expert examination of the roof found that the work to replace the roof was totally unnecessary.

The director admitted an offence under the Fraud Act 2006 and an offence under the Consumer Protection from unfair Trading Regulations 2008 in relation to unnecessary work being carried out. He also pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

He also asked for 5 other, similar matters to be taken into consideration, including two offences of failing to provide the 10 Year Insurance Backed Guarantee.

The director was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 2 years, ordered to do 250 hours of unpaid work and was disqualified from being a Company Director for 5 years. He was ordered to pay compensation to the victims and to make a contribution to the prosecution costs.