Company fined £60,000 after worker left with ‘life-changing’ injuries

A UK-based demolition company has been fined £60,000 after a worker was left with life-changing injuries.

MAC Demolition Ltd had been contracted to carry out works on a Victorian property in North West London in March 2022.

During this time, the company had employed 57-year-old Tommy Brooks to work on the site as a labourer. But on the morning of March 2, 2022, Mr. Brooks had been tasked with clearing bricks for reclamation when a large piece of masonry fell from the unstable roof, landing on top of him.

Mr. Brooks was left with significant long-term injuries including a broken shoulder and 12 broken ribs, as well as spinal and internal injuries. And according to The Health and Safety Executive, Mr. Brooks is ‘lucky to be alive’.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found MAC Demolition had failed to adequately assess the risk of falling objects during demolition and failed to implement and enforce adequate exclusion zones.

MAC Demolition Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 20 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. They were fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £3,229 costs at a hearing at Willesden Magistrates Court on 2 November 2023.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Gordon Nixon said:

“Tommy’s injuries were life-changing and he is lucky to be alive. This serious incident and the devastation it caused could have been avoided if basic, industry standard control measures had been put in place.

“Companies need be aware that we will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

Further reading

Accidents at work – Oakwood Solicitors

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