Two demolition companies have today been fined a total of £115,000 after a labourer was killed by a falling steel prop.
Essex based John F Hunt Demolition Ltd and Bayoak Demo Ltd of London both pleaded guilty to Health and Safety breaches concerning the death of 29-year-old Rafał Przestrzelski in 2005. The Central Criminal Court, (Old Bailey) heard Mr Przestrzelski, 29, of Wood Green, London N22, was employed as a labourer by demolition sub-contactor Bayoak Demo Ltd.
The project was managed by John F Hunt Demolition Ltd, acting as principal contractor. On 25 July 2005, Rafał Przestrzelski was told to remove a number of steel (Acrow) props supporting a slab of concrete, during the demolition of Telstar House in Paddington, London.
Originally there were 13 props, but as each one was removed the load increased on the remainder until the final one was carrying the entire load. When the props were removed, the concrete slab fell to the ground and an overloaded prop struck Mr Przestrzelski causing fatal internal injuries.
The subsequent joint Metropolitan Police and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found a full structural survey of the section of the building being worked on was not undertaken. The investigation discovered a section of a partially demolished link-bridge structure collapsed when the props supporting it were removed by Mr Przestrzelski.
They found a collapse was inevitable as the structure was not physically tied onto the building as was assumed by the management. John F Hunt Demolition Ltd of Europa Park, London Road, Grays in Essex pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974, at the Central Criminal Court, (Old Bailey), on 27 January 2010.
The company was fined £85,000 and ordered to pay £25,000 in costs. Bayoak Demo Ltd, of Clare Gardens, Barking in London, also pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974, at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, on 1 February 2010. The company was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £8,000 in costs. Source: HSE