Contractor Fined After Floor Collapse Leaves Workers with Life-Changing Injuries

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Aryn Stones Ltd has been fined £50,000 following a serious floor collapse at a residential construction site in Hampstead, which left two workers with life-changing injuries and injured two others.

The incident occurred on 31 May 2022, during remedial work on a partially completed beam-and-block floor. As structural modifications were underway, the floor gave way, causing two workers — a 62-year-old welder and a 31-year-old bricklayer — to fall with it. Both suffered severe, life-altering injuries. Two additional workers standing at ground level were struck by falling concrete and also sustained injuries.

The collapse occurred while the welder was using an oxyacetylene torch to cut through a key steel beam supporting the first floor. At the same time, another worker had begun removing Acrow props, leaving the structure vulnerable and unstable.

🔍 Prior Safety Concerns Ignored

Construction on the Hampstead home began in March 2021. However, by February 2022, structural engineers flagged significant issues with how the steel beams were connected. These concerns triggered the remedial works which ultimately led to the collapse.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Aryn Stones Ltd had no system in place to manage the temporary structural weaknesses introduced during the remedial works. The company failed to ensure the stability of the structure while it was in a weakened state and neglected to take adequate precautions to prevent harm.

⚖️ Court Ruling

Following a two-day trial at City of London Magistrates’ Court, Aryn Stones Ltd was found guilty of breaching safety regulations. The court imposed a £50,000 fine and ordered the company to pay £39,000 in legal costs.

🗣 HSE Comment

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Lucy Ellison-Dunn said:

“Although two men were seriously injured, it was lucky nobody was killed.

This was a completely avoidable incident.

Had a proper system for managing temporary works been in place, the risks would have been controlled. The company failed to take basic precautions to protect people from the obvious danger of collapse.”

This case underscores the critical importance of managing temporary works safely, particularly when dealing with structural alterations. Proper planning, engineering oversight, and communication between workers can mean the difference between a successful build and a devastating accident.