St Bede's Catholic Science College, of Tollfield Road, Boston, admitted failing to plan the work properly and failing to give the builders proper instructions for the work. It was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £ 900 at Skegness Magistrates court today (Wednesday 6 May)
The injured man's employers, R Harvey Builders, of Redstone Industrial Estate, Boston, admitted failing to carry out a risk assessment, and were fined £1,000 with £ 800 costs.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) brought the prosecution after an investigation into a fire at the school on 7 September 2007 when the man was injured. Sawdust had been used to soak up waste oil from a tank being removed but when the builders cut up the tank with an angle grinder, sparks set it alight. The fire service had to be called to put out the fire and students were evacuated.
Nottingham HSE inspector Jo Anderson, who investigated the case, said:
"This case highlights the extra need to work safely at schools, and to plan properly so all the risks are taken into account. If the school and the builders each knew what the other was doing, this incident would not have happened, and the worker would not have been injured."
