On the 16th of March 2017, 54-year-old Stephen Hampton was killed at work in Camden after an explosion on a demolition site based at Swains Lane in Camden, London. Hampton was cutting up an old fuel storage tank when it exploded, he was then struck by the vessel causing him fatal injuries.
HSE (Health and Safety Executive) carried out an investigation into the site contractors Materials Movement Ltd and P J Labour Services Ltd finding ‘both contractors failed in their duties to effectively plan, manage and monitor control measures to address the risks associated with the demolition of a site that contained fuel tanks’. The HSE investigation also stated: ‘the standards for this type of work are well known, established and clear’.
The first company to be fined was Materials Movement Ltd of Clifton Road, Henlow, Bedfordshire who pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 15(2) of Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. They were fined £33,000 along with costs of £7,675.38.
Next was P J Labour Services Ltd of Technology Park, Colindeep Lane, Colindale, London who also pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 15(2) of Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. Their fine was also £33,000 and their costs amounted to £7,648.18.
HSE inspector Ian Shearring commented after the case, stating: “Mr Hampton had recently adopted two young boys and this incident leaves them, along with his wife, alone and struggling financially all for the sake of a bit more effort on both defendant’s parts. Both Materials Movement Ltd and P J Labour Services Ltd have today been held to account for killing Mr Hampton after failing to take adequate action to protect the health and safety of persons working on their site”.
“Neither company adequately assessed and controlled the risks of this highly dangerous work. It was left to the workers to devise their own methods of working, which was compounded by no site management”.
If you’ve been affected by an injury or accident within a workplace, get in touch with Wolf Law personal injury solicitors today. We can let you know if you’re entitled to compensation.
