Director and Contractor Fined for Non Compliance With HSE Enforcement Notices

Brief Summary

A North London construction director and his company were fined after HSE found repeated safety failings at a residential conversion site and that the contractor did not comply with multiple enforcement notices. The case highlights the need to plan, manage, and monitor construction work properly and to close out prohibition and improvement notices effectively.

What Was The Incident?

HSE inspected a residential conversion project, converting a former public house and adjoining building into flats. At proactive and follow up visits between September 2022 and the next 12 months, inspectors identified risks related to work at height and concerns about competence of site management. Prohibition and improvement notices were served, and further breaches were found during later visits.

What Was The Outcome?

The company VNP Constructions Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 15(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and to two counts of failing to comply with a prohibition notice. The company was fined £7,200 and ordered to pay £900 in costs. The director Vasilis Paraskeva pleaded guilty to three offences on the basis of consent or connivance or attributable neglect. He was fined £10,800 and ordered to pay £900 in costs.

What Lessons Can Be Learnt?

Comply fully with enforcement notices. Repeated failure to comply with prohibition and improvement notices led to prosecution for the contractor and personal liability for the director.

Plan, manage, and monitor construction work. HSE identified continued failures to suitably plan, manage, and monitor the work over time, showing that one off fixes are not enough.

Control work at height risks. Concerns about work at height risks were part of the issues found by inspectors, reinforcing that competent arrangements and oversight must be in place throughout the project.

Ensure site management is competent. HSE raised concerns about the competence of site management, so competence should be checked, supported, and reflected in day to day supervision.

Accept that personal responsibility can follow. The director was fined because the offences were committed with his consent or connivance or attributable to his neglect, showing that leaders are not insulated from enforcement failures.

HSE Prosecution Link