A Middlesex demolition company has been fined £60,000 after part of a building fell on a labourer during demolition work.
MAC Demolition Ltd had been contracted to carry out demolition work at a Victorian building in Kilburn in north-west London.
Tommy Brooks, 57, was working on the site on 2 March 2022, when a large piece of masonry fell from the unstable roof, landing on top of him.
He was left with significant long-term injuries, including a broken shoulder and 12 broken ribs, as well as spinal and internal injuries.
‘Lucky to be alive’
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found MAC Demolition had failed to adequately assess the risk of falling objects during demolition and failed to implement and enforce adequate exclusion zones.
MAC Demolition Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 20 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. It was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £3,229 costs at a hearing at Willesden Magistrates Court on 2 November 2023.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Gordon Nixon said: “Tommy’s injuries were life-changing and he is lucky to be alive.
“This serious incident and the devastation it caused could have been avoided if basic, industry standard control measures had been put in place.
“Companies need to be aware that we will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
