Preston firms fined after building collapse
THE designer and builder of a Preston office block have been fined ordered to pay more than £31,500 after its collapse injured a worker.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the building’s designer, Peter Wallace of the Wallace Partnership, and principal contractor Jack Smith (Builders) Ltd, both based in Preston, following the partial collapse at Kirkham Crossroads on Freckleton Street.
Blackpool Magistrates’ Court heard that emergency services, including Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s major incident unit, were called to the scene in October 2008. The incident resulted in a workers’ leg being badly broken after rubble fell on him.
The HSE investigation found that a concrete block pillar, used to support the first and second floors, had been resting on the ground floor instead of going down into the foundations.
Allen Shute, the investigating HSE Inspector in Lancashire, said: “The consequences could have been much worse. This was a basic error which should have been spotted by both the building’s designer and the principal contractor.
“It is common sense that the pillar supporting the floors should have gone into the foundations, and not just rested on the floor below. It’s vital companies learn lessons from this to prevent similar incidents happening in the future.”
Peter Wallace was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £12,318 towards the cost of the prosecution at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court on 12 May 2010. Jack Smith (Builders) was fined £3,000 with costs of £12,318.
