David Beadle, trading as Beadle the Builders, failed to comply with a prohibition notice issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in relation to unsafe working at height at the site on Woodyates Road in South East London.

Falls from height remain the leading cause of death within the construction industry and HSE has published guidance about how these incidents can be avoided.

A proactive investigation by HSE found Beadle allowed workers under his control on at least three occasions to continue using a scaffold which was not properly constructed. It was a potentially dangerous structure at risk of collapse and in breach of the prohibition notice.

Sixty-three-year-old Beadle also failed to ensure that suitable and sufficient measures were in place to prevent workers falling a distance that would have caused personal injury. No edge protection had been installed to the side of the roof, the flat dormer roof, the front elevation of the roof, and safe access was not provided.

He was given a 26-week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months and was told to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

Beadle of Rochester Way, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulation 2005 and 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He was also ordered to pay £6,043 in costs at the hearing at Bexley Magistrates Court on 7 August 2024.

HSE inspector Emma Bitz said “We will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those who fail to do all that they can to keep workers safe.

“The risks from working at height are well known, as are the control measures required to reduce those risks.

“Falls from height remain the largest cause of workplace deaths in the construction industry.”

This prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Chloe Ward and supported by HSE paralegal officer Rebecca Forman.