Construction security guard killed by site hut fumes

Grant Prior 8 years ago
Share

Two security companies have been fined after a guard died from carbon monoxide poisoning on a construction site.

Javaid Iqbal, a 29 year old father of three, was employed by London based KK Security Services Ltd as a security guard on a site in Leigh, Wigan.

KK Security were sub contracted by Veritas Security (Southern) Ltd, a Southampton based company, despite it being written into the contract from the client that no sub-contracting would take place.

Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard that during the early hours of 6 December 2014, the site’s generator failed in sub-zero temperatures and in an attempt to keep warm Iqbal lit some barbecue coals in a wheelbarrow which he placed in a 20 foot steel container used as the site office.

He was found dead by police a few hours later having died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

The court also heard that Iqbal had made a number of attempts to re-start the site generator and had sought assistance from both his employers but neither had provided any meaningful assistance to him.

An HSE investigation found that KK Securities Limited failed to provide a management system to protect the welfare and safety of their employees, particularly lone workers.

No real provision had been made by the company for emergency support, the only option open to Iqbal being to ring his employer who was hundreds of miles away and could offer no practical assistance.

The investigation also found Veritas Security (Southern) Limited failed to put proper arrangements in place with the site occupier for emergency situations outside office hours, such as a loss of power or heating.

HSE Principal inspector Neil Jamieson said after the hearing: “Mr Iqbal should have been required to ring and speak to his company every hour or have some form of panic button.

“His calls were not being monitored.  Instead of this he was simply required to text in every hour stating that all was well.

“This tragic death could have been so easily avoided had either KK Securities Limited or Veritas Security (Southern) Limited made adequate arrangement to regularly check on  Mr Iqbal’s welfare during the quiet hours.  Instead, it appears he was left to fend for himself ”.

KK Security Services Ltd, of Canary Wharf, London, pleaded guilty to safety breaches and was fined £8,000 with £ 4,854 costs.

Veritas Security (Southern) Ltd, of Salisbury, Wiltshire also pleaded guilty and was fined £8,000  with £ 6,220  costs.

Both parties were also required to pay an additional £120 victims surcharge

Latest news

Construction T Level scrapped due to lack of demand

Courses canned after less than 100 sign-up for latest round
8 hours ago

Bid rigging probe launched into school repair work

Firms raided this week with focus on roofing contracts
1 day ago

McLaren hires ex-ISG regional boss for north east expansion

Andrew Beaumont becomes MD of new Yorkshire and North East business
17 hours ago

Government commits to four new prisons in seven years

£2.3bn pledged for new prison build programme
1 day ago

Road and rail delays hit revenue at Van Elle

Turnover drops 5% as markets remain challenging for piling specialist
16 hours ago

Boot reports ‘noticeable improvement’ in planning system

Government planning reforms already unblocking council planning
16 hours ago

Go-ahead to revamp former London city hall

Project will straighten the building's leaning profile with terraces to every level
1 day ago

United Living to divert Midlands gas pipeline

600m pipeline diversion clears way for M54 to M6 link road construction
15 hours ago

Credit insurance saves Billington from ISG hit

Steel specialist puts on extra shifts at its plants to cope with demand
2 days ago

M&E specialist Dodd doubles profit on retrofit surge

Family-owned Telford specialist delivers record revenue of nearly £250m
2 days ago

Go-ahead for 800-home Croydon dual towers

One Lansdowne Road build to rent scheme to cost £260m to build
2 days ago

Construction inflation set to return raising tender prices

End of 2024 to mark the bottom of present inflationary trough
2 days ago

Start date for vast Balfour and Costain carbon capture power job

£4bn Teesside project to start construction next year creating 3,000 jobs
2 days ago

Plans go in to start revamp of North Finchley town centre

Developer Regal unveils first details of Barnet masterplan
2 days ago

Glencar bags £18m Big Yellow London store

Six-storey stoarage centre to be built at Staples Corner
2 days ago

Plan unveiled for 31-storey London Fenchurch Street tower

Demolition work to start in 2026 for new office tower
3 days ago

Vinci Building buys tower cranes for first time

Contractor invests in two WOLFFKRAN all-electric cranes at £138m Sheffield site
3 days ago

30 local firms land United Utilities £500m framework

Minor works deal win for North West civils and M&E specialists
3 days ago

Restructure pays off as Higgins returns to profit

Housing contractor recovers from £25.9m loss last year
3 days ago

Former Heathrow boss joins Mace in board rejig

Firm completes string NED appointments to expanded group board
3 days ago

Planning officers to get powers to bypass committee stage for housing

Rayner reform plan to cut out local council planning committees
3 days ago

National Insurance hike to delay construction recovery

Arcadis paints varied picture with full recovery delayed until 2026
4 days ago

Gratte Bros rides out cost rises with profit increase

M&E specialist warns of further upward pressure on wage costs
4 days ago

Sellar’s 36-storey London City office tower approved

Demolition work to start in 2026 at 60 Gracechurch Street site
6 days ago

Roofers caught using phone lights to work at night

Roofing boss handed suspended prison sentence for lack of edge protection
4 days ago

£380m North West housing framework out for bid

St Helens-based Torus aims to build 9,000 homes by 2029
4 days ago

Historic property magazine to close

Estates Gazette has been in business since 1858
6 days ago

M&S Marble Arch rebuild approved after three-year planning fight

Plans were delayed when Michael Gove backed carbon campaigners
1 week ago

£191m revamp funding approved for London Barbican Centre

Construction to start in 2027 on five-year programme
1 week ago

RED Construction tops £100m turnover

Builder maintains profit margin at 1.7% as business nearly doubles in size
7 days ago

Contractor services