A builder has received a suspended prison sentence for endangering workers’ lives at a London construction site.
David Beadle, operating as Beadle the Builders, disregarded a prohibition notice issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regarding unsafe work practices at height on a site located on Woodyates Road in South East London.
Falls from height continue to be the leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry, prompting the HSE to issue guidance on how these accidents can be prevented.
The scaffold at the site was dangerously unstable, violating the HSE’s prohibition notice. An HSE investigation revealed that Beadle allowed workers under his supervision to use this improperly constructed scaffold on at least three occasions, despite its potential risk of collapse.
In addition, 63-year-old Beadle failed to implement adequate safety measures to prevent workers from falling and sustaining injuries. There was no edge protection installed on various parts of the roof, including the side, the flat dormer roof, and the front elevation, and safe access was not provided.
Beadle, of Rochester Way, London, was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. He pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He was also ordered to pay £6,043 in costs during a hearing at Bexley Magistrates’ Court on August 7, 2024.
HSE Inspector Emma Bitz commented, “We will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those who fail to ensure worker safety. The risks associated with working at height are well-known, as are the measures needed to mitigate them. Falls from height continue to be the leading cause of workplace deaths in the construction industry.”
This prosecution was handled by HSE enforcement lawyer Chloe Ward, with support from HSE paralegal officer Rebecca Forman.
