Building firm denied workers access to hot water

A construction firm denied workers access to hot water in toilets and no suitable rest facilities even after safety inspectors took enforcement action.

Ling Developments Limited (LDL), based in Wombourne, near Wolverhampton, has been fined more than £15,000 for repeatedly failing to provide proper facilities despite the action by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and advice from inspectors.

The prosecution followed an inspection of the firm's construction site at The Crest in Telford, Shropshire in April 2024.

The company pleaded guilty, at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on 13 April, to breaches of construction regulations, and was fined £15,858 and ordered to pay £3,858 in costs.

By law, contractors must provide a supply of clean hot and cold or warm water, adequate rest facilities and suitable arrangement for food preparation and eating, the HSE said.

LDL was given two improvement notices after the inspection and had been found to have breached the same legislation on three previous occasions, the organisation added.

"The provision of suitable welfare facilities such as hot running water and basic rest facilities are the minimum all workers should expect - they aren't a luxury," HSE inspector Natalie Spurrier said.

"Our investigation found that Ling Developments Limited failed in its duty to provide the minimum standard of welfare facilities at some of its construction sites.

"Failing to comply with legal obligations such as in cases like this, places workers at unnecessary risk.

"We expect these responsibilities to be taken seriously and HSE will continue to take action when standards fall short."

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