Key Points
- Two UK construction companies, Roots Contractors Limited and Diacutt Limited, were fined after drilling operative Steve Zschoch fractured his neck and back when a temporary wooden platform collapsed on him
- The incident occurred on 23 February 2024 at Paxton House in the City of London during a refurbishment project involving cutting openings through five concrete floors
- Roots Contractors Limited was fined £19,333 plus £5,548 costs at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 11 June 2026 for breaching Regulation 16(2) of The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
- Diacutt Limited was fined £13,000 plus £5,548 costs at the same hearing for breaching Regulation 15(2) of the same regulations
- Steve Zschoch, now 60, described being “folded up like a concertina” and sustained fractures to his neck, back, and a bleed on his brain, ending his construction career
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found no design for the temporary platforms and no calculation for safe loading levels
- The person who inspected the platform was not a competent temporary works coordinator, and no monitoring ensured platforms were cleared of debris
- HSE inspector Lucy Ellison-Dunn stated the incident was “entirely avoidable” and seriously injured Mr Zschoch, ending his construction career earlier than wanted
- The prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyers Chloe Ward and Jon Mack, supported by Thomas Smith
What exactly happened during the platform collapse incident?
As reported by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in their official press release, Steve Zschoch, now 60 years old, was working for contractors Diacutt Limited on 23 February 2024 at a construction project at Paxton House in the City of London. The refurbishment project, which was being run by principal contractor Roots Contractors Limited, involved cutting openings through five concrete floors to create a service riser shaft.
Roots Contractors Ltd had instructed its carpenters to build temporary wooden platforms under each opening to collect the 16kg concrete cores and debris that were generated by the cutting. Mr Zschoch had been cutting an opening on the third floor, working directly under one of the temporary platforms, when it suddenly gave way and collapsed on top of him, along with chunks of concrete that had not been cleared away.
What injuries did the worker sustain and how has his life changed?
Steve Zschoch, now 60, described being “folded up like a concertina” and has not been able to work since the incident. He sustained injuries including fractures to his neck, his back and a bleed on his brain.
As reported by the HSE press release, Mr Zschoch described the profound impact of the incident on his day to day life: “The impact this incident has had on me has been life changing in so many ways,” he said. “Not just in mobility issues but in my confidence to do just about anything. Even simple domestic tasks, like using the launderette or going to the shops can overwhelm me now. Emotionally as well as physically”.
What did the HSE investigation reveal about safety failures?
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that there was no design for the temporary platforms and no calculation had been made for the safe level of loading. While an inspection form for the platform was completed, it failed to identify any issues with the design, and the person tasked to complete it was not a competent temporary works coordinator.
We also found that although there had been a verbal instruction for workers to regularly clear the platforms of concrete and not ‘overload’ them, no safe level of loading was known, and there was no monitoring of whether the platforms were indeed cleared. HSE also found deficiencies in the planning, managing and monitoring of the work by the contractor.
Risk assessments and method statements provided by Diacutt in advance were inconsistent and their requirements for the principal contractor to provide ‘crash decks’ were unclear. There was no supervision of the drilling team by Diacutt management in the week leading up to the incident or on the day. While operatives understood that they should not work directly below one another, there was a lack of coordination and clarity as to who should have been working where.
What legal regulations did the companies breach?
Roots Contractors Limited of Ewell, Surrey pleaded guilty to breaching The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Regulation 16(2). The company was fined £19,333 plus costs of £5,548 at a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ court on 11 June 2026.
Diacutt Limited of Croydon pleaded guilty to breaching The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Regulation 15(2) and was fined £13,000 plus costs of £5,548 at the same hearing.
What did the HSE inspector say about the incident?
HSE inspector Lucy Ellison-Dunn said: “People rightly expect that when they go to work, they are not put in unnecessary danger, and this entirely avoidable incident had the effect of seriously injuring Mr Zschoch and ending his construction career much earlier than he wanted”.
“Those providing temporary works have a duty to ensure that any temporary structure is properly designed and constructed to withstand any foreseeable load that might be imposed on it,” she continued. “This means having appropriate arrangements in place to manage temporary works. Contractors should ensure all construction work is properly planned, managed and monitored to ensure workers can carry out their work safely”.
What does the law say about temporary works safety?
Temporary works must be carefully managed. The law says any temporary structure must be designed, installed and maintained to withstand any foreseeable loads which may be imposed on it and that it be only used for the purposes for which it was designed, installed and maintained. They should be inspected by a competent person on a regular basis. HSE guidance is clear temporary structures must be designed, installed and maintained to withstand any foreseeable loads. Guidance on temporary works is available at hse.gov.uk.
Who brought the prosecution and what are their roles?
The prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyers Chloe Ward and Jon Mack, supported by Thomas Smith. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety, dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
Why is this case important for construction safety training?
This case demonstrates critical failures in construction safety management that professionals must understand to prevent similar incidents. The absence of proper design calculations, inadequate inspections by competent personnel, and poor coordination between contractors represents exactly the type of safety management gaps that corporate safety training addresses. Understanding these failures is essential for construction managers, safety officers, and project coordinators who need to ensure compliance with The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
For professionals looking to strengthen their organisation’s safety management capabilities, this case highlights the importance of proper health and safety management training that covers temporary works coordination, risk assessment development, and contractor supervision requirements. Our health and safety management courses provide comprehensive training on preventing exactly these types of incidents through proper planning, management, and monitoring of construction work.
What are the sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences?
HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so. The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found on the HSE website.
Where can additional information be found about this case?
More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available through HSE resources. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available on their official website. Relevant guidance on temporary works can be found at hse.gov.uk, including information about the duties of contractors to plan, manage and monitor construction work.
This incident serves as a stark reminder that temporary works require the same level of engineering consideration and safety management as permanent structures. The £32,333 in total fines (plus £11,096 in costs) imposed on both companies reflects the seriousness of breaching construction safety regulations and the life-changing impact such failures can have on workers.
For construction industry professionals seeking to enhance their team’s understanding of temporary works safety and contractor management responsibilities, our project management training courses cover the critical coordination and oversight skills needed to prevent similar incidents. Proper project management training ensures that principal contractors and subcontractors maintain clear communication, appropriate supervision, and rigorous safety monitoring throughout construction projects.