A construction company director and his firm have been fined after failing to comply with multiple enforcement notices and for failing to suitably plan, manage and monitor construction work.
Vasilis Paraskeva and his London-based company, VNP Constructions, were appointed as contractor for the conversion of a former public house and adjoining building into residential flats in London.
During a visit to the site in September 2022, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors identified several issues, including work-at-height risks and concerns about the competence of site management. As a result, prohibition and improvement notices were served.
Further visits over the following 12 months identified additional breaches, demonstrating a continued failure to suitably plan, manage and monitor the work, HSE said. Additional prohibition and improvement notices were served.
An HSE investigation found that Paraskeva and VNP Constructions failed to comply with the requirements of multiple enforcement notices and failed to ensure work was carried out safely.
Health and safety risks
Contractors have a responsibility to plan, manage and monitor construction work to ensure it is carried out without risks to health or safety. Further guidance on managing health and safety in construction can be found here.
VNP Constructions pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 15(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and to two counts of failing to comply with a prohibition notice contrary to Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1971. It was fined £7,200 and ordered to pay £900 in costs.
As the director of VNP Constructions, Paraskeva pleaded guilty to three offences on the basis that the company had committed the offences above and were committed with his consent or connivance, or were attributable to his neglect by virtue of S37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. He was fined £10,800 and ordered to pay £900 in costs.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Andrew Pipe said: “These fines should send a clear message to the construction industry that HSE and the courts take failure to comply with enforcement notices extremely seriously.
“HSE will not hesitate to take action against companies and individuals who fail to keep people safe.”
