A construction company in Ashford has been fined £40,000, for repeatedly failing to manage risks on a construction site and exposing workers to needless risk of injury.

Ecobuild Homes Ltd, of North Street, was found guilty in their absence to a breach of Health and Safety laws.

Canterbury Magistrates were told that the development site in Ramsgate, run by Ecobuild Homes, had been visited by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Inspectors seven times in five months.

Magistrates fined the firm, which had failed to appear at court for the second time, a total of £40,000 and ordered them to pay costs of £10,035.

Between July and November 2012, HSE visited the site in Harbour Street, Ramsgate, where the company was redeveloping a restaurant into flats.

The court heard that on one visit, inspectors had no choice but to stop some work at the site immediately, owing to the dangers faced by workers of falling from height and issues with electrical safety.

HSE found issues relating to fire safety, accumulation of rubble, debris and bricks falling into a neighbouring property, and site security.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Caroline Penwill said: “There were elements of this development that had evidently become a shambles - but a dangerous one.

Construction site 'a dangerous shambles'

“If HSE visits a construction site and has to issue prohibition notices preventing further work, that in itself shows that there is a very real and immediate risk to workers there, and possibly to members of the public.

“Ecobuild Homes Ltd failed on several fronts to safeguard the workforce from risks that are well known in the construction industry.

“They either did not identify those risks or neglected to manage them effectively.”

“Proper management of work activities and competent site supervision are essential but the company fell well below the required standards.”

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