Two construction companies received big fines after a fatal workplace accident at Heathrow Airport in 2005.

Laing O’Rourke Infrastructure Limited and SGB Services Limited both pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 following the incident when a concrete slab collapsed at the airport, with the resulting workplace injuries leaving one man dead and another seriously injured.

Isleworth Crown Court heard that carpenter Mathew Gilbert and engineer’s assistant Parminder Singh were standing on the concrete slab when it collapsed and they had a fall from height of approximately 17-metres to the level below.

Mr Gilbert died and Mr Singh suffered a broken back, a broken leg and a broken jaw.

The subsequent HSE investigation revealed that the collapse of the slab was caused by the failure of two Threaded Shoring Adaptors (TSA’s) which were found to be part of a sub-standard batch manufactured for SGB Services Ltd two years previously.

The investigation also found that Laing O'Rourke had failed in ensuring that adequate systems were in place to inspect the quality and condition of the TSA’s before they were used and had failed to remove sub-standard ones from use when warned.

At a sentencing hearing on 6 November, Laing O’Rourke Infrastructure was fined £75,000 and ordered to pay £75,000 in costs whilst SGB Services was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £30,000 in costs.

HSE Inspector, Karen Morris, said: “The tragic death of one man and the serious injuries suffered by his colleague could have been prevented if both companies had had more robust systems in place. It is vital that safety-critical components are inspected before use to ensure that defective equipment is not used.”

CALL 0800 0322210 - or if preferred contact our discreet ONLINE CHAT LINE - or complete our enquiry form opposite.