Firm fined after worker died during university construction

Igor Malka, aged 62, and a second contractor, Edmund Vispulskis, had been in a scissor lift while installing cladding during the construction of a new engineering hall at the University of Birmingham on 7 January 2020.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the incident which saw Mr Malka fall from height and subsequently prosecuted Balfour Beatty, with the firm fined £285,000 yesterday Monday (September 16).

The two workers, from Lithuania, fell approximately 10 metres when their scissor lift was pushed over by a nearby crane.

This led to Mr Malka losing his life while Mr Vispulskis sustained injuries to his spine and broken ribs, before spending seven weeks in a neck brace.

Mr Vispulskis also required pins to be inserted in his pelvis and thigh.

A picture of the site from the Health and Safety Executive (Image: HSE)

Balfour Beatty had been the principal contractor while the National Buried Infrastructure Facility was being built at the university.

The crane was being used to move hydraulic equipment that had been delivered by a lorry. The equipment was set to be installed at the facility.

The HSE investigation found the incident could have been prevented had Balfour Beatty implemented better controls and put in place better communication between contractors.

There were contractors at the site that were moving the hydraulic units into place with the overhead travelling gantry crane, and another team who were installing internal cladding. Balfour Beatty, as principal contractor on site, had a duty to ensure communication and co-operation between these contractors.

There was also no lift supervisor present at the time of the incident.

The University of Birmingham was not prosecuted by HSE.

Balfour Beatty, of Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.

The company was fined £285,000 and ordered to pay £21,768.88 in costs at Birmingham Crown Court on 16 September.

HSE inspector Gareth Langston said: “This was a tragic incident that led to the death of a worker with another being seriously injured and still experiencing difficulties today as a result.

“Lifting operations must be properly controlled - they must be planned, with plans adhered to.”