Construction company fined for repeated site failures.
What happened?
- A construction company, Ling Developments Limited, was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
- The investigation followed a 2024 site inspection in Telford.
- Inspectors found no clean hot or cold running water available in toilet facilities.
- There was a lack of proper rest facilities for workers on site.
- The rest areas that did exist were unsuitable and below acceptable standards.
- Despite being given advice and enforcement action, the company repeatedly failed to improve conditions.
- The HSE concluded the company did not meet minimum welfare standards required for construction workers.
What was the result?
- As a result, Ling Developments Limited was fined for breaching health and safety regulations
- The inspection led to two improvement notices, requiring the company to comply with legal standards.
- The company had previously breached the same regulations on three occasions.
- An HSE investigation confirmed ongoing non-compliance despite prior enforcement action and guidance.
- Ling Developments Limited, based in Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty to breachingRegulation 13(4)(c) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
- At Birmingham Magistrates Court on 13 April 2026, the company was fined £15,858 and ordered to pay £3,858 in costs.
Lessons Learned
- Employers must provide adequate welfare facilities on site, including access to clean hot and cold running water, toilets, and suitable rest areas from the start of any project.
- Welfare provisions must be maintained to an acceptable standard, ensuring they remain clean, functional, and appropriate for the number of workers on site.
- Employers must act promptly on enforcement notices and guidance, ensuring that any identified shortcomings are rectified and do not reoccur across multiple sites.
Further Information
- Under The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Principal Contractors have a duty to provide specific welfare facilities for construction sites.
- Further guidance on workplace welfare is available from the HSE: Welfare – Overview
- The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places a duty on employers to ensure the health, safety andwelfare of employees (such as toilets, washing facilities, drinking water, rest areas, and changing facilities) – further details can be found here. https://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/workplace-facilities/index.htm
- The Approved Code of Practice for ‘Workplace health, safety and welfare’, L24 provides additional information on how to comply with The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.
