Brighton Council Fined Over Fatal Bike Shed Fall
Brighton and Hove City Council has been slammed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after failing to properly plan and supervise the cleaning of a school bike shed. The blunder contributed to a tragic, avoidable death.
Council Guilty of Safety Breach, Hit with Hefty Fine
The local authority, responsible for staff at Blatchington Mill School, admitted breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. On 28 February 2023, Brighton Magistrates’ Court slapped the council with a £66,666 fine plus £5,000 costs.
HSE Issues Stark Warning on Work at Height
HSE inspector Natalie Pomfret said: “Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well-known. In this case, this tragic incident led to a man’s avoidable death. This death could have been prevented if his employer had acted to plan and supervise the work activity and ensured a safe method of work was in place.”
