A contractor working on the Francis Crick Institute project in London has been fined £185,000 for the death or a worker.
CMF was fined after Richard Laco, a subcontractor, was fatally crushed on 6 November 2013 by a concrete staircase that was in the process of being installed.
Southwark Crown Court heard that Laco had been contracted by CMF to work on the project but an investigation by the HSE found there was no safe system of work in place for the installation of the staircases throughout the project.
It was also found the company failed to appropriately supervise this work activity.
CMF, of Central Way, Feltham, Middlesex, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and was fined £185,000 and ordered to pay costs of £20,606.14.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Stephen Farthing said: “This incident could have been prevented if the company had properly planned the lifting process before work had begun.
“Duty holders have the responsibility of ensuring that safe and suitable lifting plans are in place before carrying out any work involved with heavy loads.”
Elsewhere Kent-based construction company Hague Construction has been fined £100,000 following the death of a ground worker.
Lewes Crown Court heard that on 4 October 2013 Daniel Clifford Yeowell and his colleagues were constructing and installing drainage boxes at a site at Langley Green Primary School, Crawley, West Sussex.
Yeowell was struck by a concrete drainage cover as he was standing in the excavation area and later died as a result of his severe head injuries.
An investigation by the HSE found that Hague failed to properly plan this lifting operation and also failed to supply workers with the safe and appropriate equipment to carry out the work. It was also found the lifting chains used were too long for the work and were not attached safely to the cover or the excavator.
Hague Construction, of Sir Thomas Longley Road, Rochester, Kent, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 and was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £16,918.
