Construction Company Fined for Repeated Welfare Failures at Multiple Sites

Brief Summary

HSE prosecuted the company after inspections across four construction sites identified repeated welfare failures. The company had previously breached the same legal requirements and continued to provide sub standard facilities even after enforcement action.

What Was The Incident?

In April 2024, HSE inspected the company’s construction site at The Crest, Oldbury Park, Telford and found inadequate welfare provision. This included no hot or warm water in toilets and a lack of suitable rest facilities for workers.

What Was The Outcome?

The company pleaded guilty to breaches of Regulation 13 4 c of The Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015. The company was fined £15,858 and ordered to pay £3,858 in costs at Birmingham Magistrates Court on 13 April 2026, after two improvement notices were served.

What Lessons Can Be Learnt?

Provide welfare facilities to the minimum required standard. Washing facilities must include clean hot and cold or warm water, and rest facilities must include an adequate number of tables and seating, with suitable arrangements for meals.

Do not treat improvement notices as optional. The company continued to provide inadequate welfare after HSE served two improvement notices, which contributed to the decision to prosecute.

Assure welfare compliance across all sites. HSE identified repeated failures at four different construction sites, highlighting the need for consistent welfare management rather than site specific fixes.

Ensure lessons from prior breaches are embedded. HSE noted the company had been found to have breached the same legislation on three previous occasions, so controls should prevent recurrence after earlier enforcement and advice.

Welfare shortfalls create unnecessary worker risk. HSE emphasised that suitable welfare facilities such as hot running water and basic rest facilities are a minimum expectation and failure to meet legal duties can put workers at risk.

HSE Prosecution Link