News

Brendan Flynn Construction Limited was sub-contracted to carry out carpentry work on a residential project in Crawley.

However, on 3 November 2009, the cladding the firm was using was not effectively secured, which resulted in it being blown off the building to the pavement below.

One piece struck a pensioner on the ankle, causing serious injury. The woman, who was in her 80s, was hit so hard by the cladding it almost severed her foot.

Another piece of cladding hit a passing man causing bruising from wrist to shoulder.

During the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution, the court heard how a number of vehicles in a nearby supermarket car park and busy road were also struck on the same day.

The HSE told the court that Brendan Flynn Construction Limited had failed to use the correct nails to safely secure the cladding product.

Brendan Flynn Construction Limited, of Watford Road, Northwood, Harrow, pleaded guilty to contravening s.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974, which covers the duty of the employer to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of affected non-employees.

The company was fined a total of £8000 and ordered to pay costs of £14,760.

Article courtesy of Croner