The fatal consequence of failing to move from paper to practice

摘要

In this feature, we look at a principal contractor's failures that led to the death of a worker when a re-enforced concrete slab collapsed underneath him during a demolition project. The resulting fine of ￡500,000 equates to 4.7% of the most recent published pre-tax profit of the principal contractor, McGee Group (Holdings). The case highlights the importance of ensuring and then checking that paper arrangements are implemented and occurring in practice and that workers have been trained to use the specific equipment that is required for the task. "This is a case," said the HSE's investigating inspector, Andrew Verrall-Withers, "of a company wanting to have good systems to protect the workers, but not paying enough attention to what was actually happening at the site. This young man's death could have been prevented."