Formaction Ltd and its director breach Working at Height regulations

Formaction Ltd and its director Derek Bawn have been taken to court and prosecuted for breaching a number of Working at Height regulations, and we have a member of the public to thank for spotting the danger.

In June 2013 the company was installing a new roof on a unit at The Gulf Works, Penarth Road, Cardiff. Three people were working at up to 8 meters off the ground on a pitched roof without safety measures. The HSE was informed by a worried passer by, investigated, and found a number of safety breaches.

In court, Formaction Ltd of Glandwr Industrial Estate, Aberbeeg, Gwent, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 6(3) and 9(2) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. Derek Bawn pleaded guilty to breaching the same regulations through Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £3,000 and paid costs of £1,323. Mr Brown was fined £6,000 and also paid costs of £1,323.

According to HSE Inspector Liam Osborne, this wasn't the first incident:

"Formaction Ltd and director Derek Bawn knew perfectly well that what they were doing was seriously unsafe and illegal, because of previous enforcement action by HSE and a warning of prosecution if they continued to work in this way. The workers were deliberately exposed to serious danger because of the serious neglect of safety precautions."

If the staff had been trained and the company had followed the regulations then the HSE, court, and company time could have been saved as well as the £11,646 bill. It's always better to be safe than sorry or out of pocket, so why not book a 1, 2, 3 Work at Height course by contacting us today.

Source: HSE