Council fined £125,000 after boy dies on unsafe stairwell

The London Borough of Newham Council received a fine and a warning this month following the death of a 13 year old boy on a dangerous stairwell - 8th April 2007

The HSE have once again sent out a warning to local authorities that they must be prompt and efficient in carrying out necessary repair works to buildings / areas to which the public have access.

This comes after a serious accident involving a child of 13 and a staircase that had been in a dangerous condition for more than 6 months. Newham borough council were fined £125k after pleading guilty to a charge of  failing to maintain adequately the communal areas of a council-owned and maintained parade of shops and flats in London E12.

HSE investigating Inspector Dominic Long said:

“Local Authorities have a legal obligation to ensure that tenants and other members of the public are not placed at unnecessary risk arising from poor procedures for repairing damage to buildings.
 

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“This case should serve as a reminder to Councillors and Chief Executives of the importance of effective maintenance systems to ensure repairs are carried out quickly and to appropriate standards.”
 

Despite being aware of the defects to the stairway, the council sent the wrong workers or the wrong parts / equipment out on a number of occasions and the work was left undone. The boy died in a fall.
 

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