Company fined after man died at 'death trap' site
HSEA construction company has been fined £20,000 after a man fell down an exposed excavation hole filled with rainwater and died.
Mykhalio Hustei, 35, who lived and worked at the site on the High Street in Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, drowned following a night out with friends on 22 October 2021.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said the site, made up of slippery boards and planks, was "literally a death trap" and was open to the weather.
Alchemist DB Limited was found guilty of breaking the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and was ordered to pay £5,000 in costs at Luton Magistrates' Court last month.
The company has since gone into liquidation.
HSE inspector Rauf Ahmed said: "Our thoughts remain with the family of Mr Hustei, a young man who was just setting out on his career in construction."
HSEThe company, which was based in Borehamwood, was building flats on the site when the death occurred.
They failed to take appropriate precautions to ensure the safety of those moving around and working there, the HSE said.
The site had no dedicated lighting and handrails to prevent falls.
Hustei's body was found at about 14:00 GMT the following day.
Ahmed added: "The measures put in place by the company after his tragic death are a crude reminder about what could and should have been done in the first place.
"We will always take action against those who fail to protect people from risk."
The sentence was passed on 29 May.
Do you have a story suggestion for Beds, Herts or Bucks? Contact us below.
Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
