London property developer fined over £88,000 after facing serious scrutiny from Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

A London property developer, Nofax Enterprises Limited, based in Maldon, Essex, has been fined £88,000 after facing serious scrutiny from Britain’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The four-storey building site, located on Dalston Lane, was intended to house nine flats and a youth club on the basement floor.

The Health and Safety Executive investigated Nofax Enterprises, after concerning violations to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.The investigation involved four visits to the site over 13 months from 2020 to 2021, uncovering a troubling amount of safety violations.

Nofax Enterprises received a total of nine enforcement notices, including five prohibition notices, highlighting the company’s failure to maintain a safe working environment.

Investigations at other sites operated by the company also revealed a pervasive poor health and safety culture and systemic management issues.

Issues found

Inspectors identified significant risks associated with these violations, including issues with work protection, management and health and safety regulations:

• Working at height
• inadequate fire precautions
• Excessive exposure to silica dust
• Wood dust

It was later discovered that Nofax Enterprises did not implement sufficient COVID-19 safety measures, and welfare controls failed to protect workers from wood dust exposure, raising further concerns about worker safety during the pandemic.

The severity of these breaches led to the site being closed on two occasions.

How damaging can these issues be?

Following the life-threatening issues the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found during this investigation, they found that exposure to wood and silica dust can lead to severe health issues including:

• Asthma
• Nasal and lung cancer
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

The HSE has emphasized the importance of adhering to safety guidelines for workers in these environments. Resulting in refreshing their guidance publication of ‘Health surveillance for those exposed to respirable crystalline silica’.

The following points have been highlighted in the amended document:

• Worktop manufacture and installation are identified as high-risk jobs, and the provision of health surveillance must be taken into consideration.
• Workers are constantly exposed to RCS dust and there is a reasonable chance that silicosis may develop.
• Under the COSHH Regulations, individuals exposed to hazardous substances must participate in health surveillance, a risk-based program of routine health examinations, to identify adverse health impacts early and determine if risk assessment and management methods need to be reviewed and revised.
• To determine when further health monitoring is required, such as in cases where excessive exposure to RCS dust has already taken place, occupational health specialists should be consulted.

For further information you can read the updated publication: Health surveillance for those exposed to respirable crystalline silica (G404).

The result:

As a result of the failure to meet the most basic health and safety standards of The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Nofax Enterprises neglected its responsibilities and continually exposed its employees to serious risk.

This resulted in Nofax Enterprises Limited, pleading guilty to violations of sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. Following the hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 18th March 2025, the company was ordered to pay a total of £88,812.68 which included a fine of £63,000, costs of £25,622.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) therefore emphasises the critical importance of health and safety compliance in the construction industry and the potential consequences for companies that neglect their responsibilities.

How can we help you?

If you believe you have been affected by a similar or related situation in the workplace, please consult our expert team to understand your rights and find out how we can help you.

We have a dedicated in-house team of solicitors and support staff who are ready to assist you with your matter.

Further information:

The Health and Safety Executive – Website

Respiratory disease claims – Oakwood Solicitors

WHAT TO DO NEXT

Get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation. Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page, or call us on 0113 200 9720 to find out how we can help you.