Mark Hewitt, a construction client from Birmingham, was fined £3000 and ordered to pay £1255.30 in costs at Sandwell Magistrates Court for failing to properly plan or manage construction work.

HSE inspected the site after a member of the public raised concerns over work taking place next to a public pavement. During the inspection it was clear there was a risk of materials falling from the first floor level onto the pavement and the street, and there were no fall prevention measures in place to protect workers on the site.

HSE Inspector Chris Gregory said:

“As the client for the work, Mr Hewitt should have ensured the appropriate measures were in place in order to plan, manage and monitor the project. He was informed of his duties by his advisors, but failed to act.

Mr Hewitt had a duty to ensure that the safety of those working on site and those members of the public, passing by, were not put at risk, he failed on both counts”

Mark Hewitt of Manor Lane in Halesowen, being a client as defined by the Construction (Management and Design) Regulations 2007, was found guilty of breaching Regulation 9(1) of said regulations.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training, new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk^[1]

2. Further HSE news releases are available at www.press.hse.gov.uk ^[2]

3. Falls from height are responsible for around a third of workplace deaths every year, with 25 people losing their lives in 2012/13. For further information, go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/work-at-height/index.htm