Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Case study
On many occasions supervision is a safety critical elem-
ent contained in a safe system of work (SSOW). When it 
fails it may result in dire consequences such as personal 
and fi nancial losses.
On Friday, 6 February 2004 the HSE issued the 
following press release:
A construction company was fi ned a total of 
£40 000 and ordered to pay £12 983 costs 
at the Old Bailey after pleading guilty to 
a breach of health and safety legislation. 
The case, brought by the Health and Safety 
Executive (HSE) against Eugena Ltd, arose 
following a fatal accident during construction 
work at St Thomas’ Hospital, Lambeth Palace 
Road, London SE1.
Construction worker Ian Mallon was lay-
ing blockwork at a height of about 2.5 metres 
when he fell from the unguarded edge of a 
scaffold work platform on 17 June 2001. As 
a result of the fall Mr Mallon suffered severe 
head injuries from which he died in hospital 
several days later. The incomplete scaffold 
platform used by Mr Mallon and his work-
mates had not been inspected by a compe-
tent person after its alteration.
Eugena Ltd pleaded guilty to a breach of 
duties under section 3(1) of the Health and 
Safety at Work Act etc. 1974, in that they 
failed, so far as was reasonably practicable, 
to ensure the health and safety of persons 
not in their employment.
Sentencing the company, the Judge said:
‘Sadly it is all too often the case [that] when not 
adequately supervised corners are cut, a prin-
cipal contractor must be alive to such risks.’
HSE Principal Inspector, Neil Stephens, 
said after the case:
‘This case has demonstrated that princi-
pal contractors simply cannot assume that 
sub-contractors, if left unsupervised, will act 
safely. Principal contractors must ensure that 
they have adequate arrangements in place to 
supervise the work of their sub-contractors’.