01/07/2010 - Building firm fined over fall death
A Brighton-based construction company and two of its directors have been fined a total of £75,000 over the death of a member of the public.
Edward Dean, 24, had been out socialising in Brighton on Sunday June 29, 2008, and wandered onto the construction site run by PIB (UK) Ltd in the early hours of June 30.
The company was refurbishing a large semi-detached house at 100 Buckingham Road and turning it into five flats. Because the site wasn't properly secured, Mr Dean was able to enter the work area and he tripped over an unprotected edge and fell 2.4 metres into a basement courtyard. He was found dead later in the morning.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted PIB (UK) Ltd of 420 Falmer Road, Woodingdean for breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. At Lewes Crown Court, the company pleaded guilty and was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,500.
Two of the company's directors, John Blankson, 55, of 27 Glen Rise, Brighton and Steven Moore, 44, of Falmer Road, Woodingdean also faced legal action over health and safety breaches at the site.
Mr Blankson, who was also the client for the project, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 20(1) (a) (b) and (c) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. He was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,465.
Mr Moore was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,500 after pleading guilty to breaching section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Mr Moore was disqualified as a director for five years.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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