London construction company Darma Limited has been fined after an unannounced inspection from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found dangerous conditions on a basement excavation site.
The inspection of the site on Filmer Road in Fulham was carried out during a clampdown on poor safety conditions on basement projects in November 2013.
The inspection found workers were being exposed to extremely dangerous conditions on the site, being made to work in and around deep excavations of up to four metres in depth that were not properly supported.
Westminster Magistrates court heard that basement excavation under existing buildings poses significant dangers and safe systems of work must be in place at all times. These include the appointment of a temporary works engineer, clear and competent site management and adequate shoring and propping of all excavations. Darma Limited failed in its duty to provide any of these measures – putting workers at risk of death.
The company were fined £13,400 and ordered to pay £4,719 in costs after admitting a breach of Regulation 31(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.