In House Design & Build, the construction arm of Soho House, has been fined more than £100,000 for failing to manage and control various safety risks.
In House is the £62m turnover construction and project management arm of the Soho House private members club and oversees work on its developments.
An investigation by the HSE found that over a four-month period at the first site, and despite several enforcement notices being served, the company still failed to adequately address the risks.
The notices served were for breaches including unsafe work at height, working in unstable deep excavations and inadequate arrangements for planning, managing and monitoring construction work.
Further similar concerns were found later in the year at the second site where very poor welfare arrangements were also noted.
In House Design & Build, of Royalty House, Dean Street, London, pleaded guilty to two breaches under Regulation 13 (1) of the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015. The company was fined £100,000.
Project manager, Neil Crow, of Woodgrange Avenue, London, who had been in charge of operations at both sites, pleaded guilty to two breaches under Regulation 13 (1) of the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015, by virtue of Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. He was fined £15,000.
Full costs of £15,000 were also awarded.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Dominic Goacher said: “Principal contractors and their managers have a duty to ensure risks to workers are managed throughout the construction phase of projects.
“This case serves as a reminder to those responsible of the importance of ensuring construction work is properly planned, managed and monitored so that serious risks are identified and eliminated or controlled. It was only by good fortune that someone was not seriously injured or killed in this instance.”
