Workers were exposed to risks of falling from height and other accidents, and had to endure grotty welfare facilities.
Stoneforce Ltd, of Hertfordshire, was the main contractor hired to carry out work on the refurbishment of a new retail store in Northumberland Street, which started in September 2011 and lasted for several months.
Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard that a Health & Safety Executive (HSE) inspector visited the site on 14 September 2011 and advised Stoneforce of its legal obligations when managing the site.
A number of complaints about the site were received by HSE in late February 2012, including allegations of risks relating to falls from height and concerns about poor housekeeping and a lack of welfare facilities. These prompted a further inspection on 21 February 2012.
Several safety failings were found and a prohibition notice was served for lack of roof edge protection (see picture below).
A number of improvement notices were also served the following day relating to the inadequate welfare facilities and for failing to keep the site in good order.
Stoneforce Ltd, of Hardy House, Northbridge Road, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, was fined a total of £10,000 (£2,000 for each offence) after it pleaded guilty to two breaches of Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005; and three breaches within the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. The company was also ordered to pay £5,195.70 costs.
After the hearing HSE inspector Andrea Robbins said: "Numerous failings were found on this site, including serious risks from falls from height that could have resulted in major injuries or even death.
"Falls from height are still the largest cause of deaths in the construction industry, accounting for half of all fatalities and more than a quarter of all major injuries. In addition, several thousand construction workers are injured each year as a result of a slip or trip and it should have been clear that workers were at risk of serious personal injury as a result of the lack of good order on this site.
"There was also a lack of suitable and sufficient welfare facilities on the site, with the only sanitary provision being four portable toilets, which were not well lit and were not kept in a clean and orderly condition. There were also no suitable washing facilities in the toilet area. Such facilities are a basic human right."
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