Construction Safety Alert: Client Given Suspended Prison Sentence After Serious Site Failings

A London construction client, Moses Meisels, has received a 12-week custodial sentence (suspended for one year) and ordered to pay £10,000 in costs after multiple dangerous safety failings were uncovered on a synagogue-development site in Hackney.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched an investigation after a worker was found dead on the site in December 2018. While the death was from natural causes, inspectors identified serious breaches of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) over several visits.

What Inspectors Found

Over four HSE inspections, multiple life-threatening hazards were identified, including:

• Unprotected roof-edge work beyond safe scaffolding barriers

• Large open holes in the ground floor, creating fall risks into the basement

• A single unsecured ladder used as the only access point to upper levels

• Construction waste dangerously stacked in the front garden

  
  

Meisels pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the project was properly planned, managed, and monitored — legal duties placed on clients under CDM 2015.

Why This Case Matters

This prosecution reinforces that clients are legally accountable, not just contractors. Even when an incident is unrelated to site conditions, unsafe practices uncovered during an investigation can still lead to criminal prosecution.

Clients must ensure:

• Competent contractors are appointed

• A construction phase plan is in place

• Proper site setup, safe access, and risk controls

• Regular monitoring of the project and its safety standards

HSE made it clear: if clients fail to meet their obligations, enforcement action will follow.

How Armadillo Safety Solutions Can Help

At Armadillo Safety Solutions, we support clients, contractors, and developers in meeting their CDM and wider health & safety duties — preventing cases like this long before they reach enforcement stage.

CDM 2015 Client Support

• Advice on your legal responsibilities as a commercial client

• Assistance appointing competent contractors and Principal Designers

• Creation or review of Construction Phase Plans

• Ongoing monitoring to ensure the project remains compliant

  
  

Site Audits & Inspections

We carry out regular site audits to identify hazards like those listed in the case above — enabling you to fix issues before they become incidents or enforcement action.

RAMS, Policies & Documentation

Clear, practical and compliant documentation:

• Risk assessments & method statements

• Site setup guidance

• Safe access/egress planning

• Waste management controls

• Fire and emergency arrangements

  
  

Retained Health & Safety Advisor

Your dedicated advisor provides consistent support throughout your project, helping you stay compliant year-round — not just at audit time.

Training for Site Teams

Toolbox talks, inductions, and bespoke training sessions to ensure everyone understands their responsibilities and safe working procedures.

Please visit our website: https://www.armadillo-safety.co.uk/