On November 10, 2023, Giraffe Access Company Ltd was found guilty and fined £120,000 for breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Section 3. The case involved a serious incident where two workers were injured due to a defective cradle falling from a height of nine floors at a construction site in London.
Case Details
Incident Overview
On June 4, 2020, two workers, Marcel Botnaru and Radu Baracu, were working on a residential tower under construction on Pennington Street in London. They were in a cradle at level nine when it fell approximately 90 feet to the ground. The support beams for the cradle had been fitted with the wrong-sized end stops, causing it to roll off the end and crash below.
Injuries Sustained
- Marcel Botnaru: Suffered six broken ribs and a punctured lung.
- Radu Baracu: Was off work for six weeks but escaped more serious injuries.
Investigation Findings
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) conducted an investigation and found that:
- Zarafa Height Solutions Limited: Failed to ensure that the support beams they manufactured were safe to use when they left their factory in Grantham.
- Giraffe Access Company Limited: Failed to identify the defective support beams during their safety checks prior to commissioning.
Legal Proceedings
Both companies, part of the Zarafa Group, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act. The court proceedings took place at Croydon Magistrates Court on November 10, 2023.
Fines and Costs
- Zarafa Height Solutions Limited: Fined £120,000 and ordered to pay £3,987 in costs.
- Giraffe Access Company Limited: Fined £120,000 and ordered to pay £3,996 in costs.
Importance of Safety Checks
HSE inspector Kevin Smith emphasized the importance of rigorous safety checks on equipment before use. He stated, “This incident could have ended in a double tragedy. Both of these men suffered injuries but were fortunate to escape with their lives. The fines imposed on these two companies should underline to everyone in the construction industry the importance of ensuring that rigorous safety checks are carried out on equipment before it is put to use. We will not hesitate to take action against companies which do not do all that they should to keep people safe”.
Conclusion
The case of Giraffe Access Company Ltd serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of adhering to health and safety regulations in the workplace. The substantial fines imposed on both companies highlight the serious consequences of failing to ensure the safety of workers. It is imperative for all companies in the construction industry to conduct thorough safety checks and comply with regulations to prevent such incidents in the future.
