A builder has been prosecuted after he neglected the welfare of his workers at a West Cornwall construction site.
David Lawrance, a partner at Swiftfix Reinforcement Specialists, was responsible for the building of a new house between May and July 2012 and failed to provide suitable washing facilities and rest areas for his team.
Bodmin Magistrates’ Court heard last month how an inspector from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) had visited the site and found there to be no hot or cold running water or sink to wash in.
There was also no suitable drinking water available, with only a hose running from a nearby property into a plastic container.
The inspector found insufficient areas for resting, drying clothes or eating to be available and although there was a small portable office with room for three chairs, together there were eight workmen on site. There was also no electricity supply connected to the office.
The HSE served an Improvement Notice to the company requiring better conditions; however a follow-up inspection showed that nothing had changed.
David Lawrance pleaded guilty to breaching the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and was given a two year conditional discharge. He was ordered to pay costs of £2,141.