Recent HSE Construction Cases: What They Mean for Contractors and Dutyholders

Recent enforcement action by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) highlights ongoing, preventable failures across the construction sector. These cases show that basic risk controls are still being missed, and that poor planning, supervision, and compliance continue to put workers at serious risk.

In one recent case, a construction company was fined after workers were found operating in a deep excavation with no suitable risk assessment, no safe system of work, and no measures in place to prevent collapse. HSE inspectors identified a clear failure to plan and manage high-risk work, exposing workers to the risk of serious injury or death.

Elsewhere, a principal contractor was prosecuted after an inspection uncovered missing edge protection on upper floors, inadequate fire precautions, poor site housekeeping, and insufficient welfare facilities. These issues had been identified previously, but corrective action had not been taken, leading to further enforcement and prosecution.

HSE has also taken action against construction companies and directors who failed to comply with improvement and prohibition notices. In these cases, ongoing work at height risks and inadequate site management were allowed to continue over an extended period, significantly increasing both safety risks and legal consequences.

These cases reinforce common themes seen across construction enforcement: failure to properly assess risk, poor control of work at height and excavations, lack of supervision, and a reactive approach to health and safety. Importantly, HSE continues to pursue not only companies but individuals where legal duties are ignored.

How Armadillo Safety Solutions Can Help

At Armadillo Safety Solutions, we help construction businesses identify and address these risks before they lead to enforcement action or serious incidents. We provide practical site audits, risk assessments, construction phase planning support, and ongoing advisory services aligned with HSE expectations and CDM 2015 duties. Our focus is on helping dutyholders implement health and safety arrangements that work in practice, not just on paper.