Infrastructure company receives six-figure fine following death of worker

A company has been sentenced following the death of a 62-year-old worker who fell 10 metres during the construction of a new university facility.

On 7 January 2020, Igor Malka and another contractor, Edmund Vispulskis, were working from a scissor lift, installing cladding at a new engineering hall at the University of Birmingham.

The crane, which was being used to move hydraulic equipment delivered by a lorry for installation at the facility, knocked over the scissor lift, causing both men to fall approximately 10 metres.

Malka lost his life, while Vispulskis sustained serious injuries, including spinal damage and broken ribs, requiring seven weeks in a neck brace and pins in his pelvis and thigh.

The HSE investigation found the incident could have been prevented if Balfour Beatty had implemented better controls and communication between contractors.

At the time, one team was using the overhead travelling gantry crane to move hydraulic units, while another was installing internal cladding.

HSE said that as the principal contractor, Balfour Beatty had a responsibility to ensure effective communication and cooperation between the teams.

Additionally, there was no lift supervisor present when the incident occurred.

Balfour Beatty admitted to breaching Regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.

The company was fined £285,000 and ordered to pay £21,768.88 in costs at Birmingham Crown Court on 16 September 2024.

HSE inspector Gareth Langston said: “This was a tragic incident that led to the death of a worker with another being seriously injured and still experiencing difficulties today as a result. Lifting operations must be properly controlled – they must be planned, with plans adhered to.”

The University of Birmingham was not subject to prosecution by the HSE.