Breaches in health and safety regulations included exposure to silica dust that can cause cancer, poor fire precautions and risks to workers during the Covid pandemic.
Nofax Enterprises, the company running the site in Dalston Lane was said to have failed to protect workers from exposure to wood dust as well as having “insufficient Covid and welfare controls” between 2020 and 2021.
“This company showed a total disregard to keeping its workers safe,” Health and Safety inspector Gordon Nixon said. “They failed to meet even the most basic standards and exposed workers to serious risks.
“We won’t wait until workers are seriously injured or worse — but will prosecute when health and safety regulations are so blatantly flouted.”
Nine enforcement notices were served against Nofax Enterprises for the Dalston Lane site over 13 months during the Covid crisis, when a block of nine flats with a basement for a youth club was being built.
Inspections at other sites operated by the company also identified “a poor health and safety culture and systemic management failings”, Southwark Crown Court was told.
The risks to workers continued over a long period, despite visits by inspectors when several notices were served — but the company “failed to make any appropriate changes”, the judge said. There had been “a systemic failure in the organisation to manage health and safety”.
Nofax, which is based at Maldon in Essex, pleaded guilty on March 18 to breaching the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act and was ordered to pay almost £90,000 including a £63,000 fine and £25,600 legal costs.
Exposure to silica or wood dust can lead to lung cancer, pulmonary disease, silicosis and asthma, the Health and Safety Executive points out.
Guidance is provided for construction companies to protect workers operating with stone and wood against breathing in dust. There are also safety measures covering anyone operating high up on construction sites to avoid accidents.
