Huge fine for UK housebuilder after teen bricklayer injured

The collapsed stairwell after the incident (Image courtesy of HSE)

Charlie Marsh, 17, had been working as a contractor on a 450-home site at Meadfields in Weston-Super-Mare when a temporary stairwell covering collapsed.

Marsh was less than 12 months into his career and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said he was lucky to escape serious injury.

On 22 August 2023, March has been loading concrete blocks onto the temporary flooring on the first floor of one of the newly built homes.

One stack of blocks was on or near to a temporary stairwell covering, which consisted of a timber sheet laid over joists, both of which would later be removed to install the staircase.

The area collapsed and caused March and 20kg of concrete blocks to fall more than two metres to the ground below. He sustained injuries to his fingers, hand, wrist and shoulder.

The HSE investigation found that the joists under the timber sheet material should have been back propped. This was mentioned a number of times in Taylor Wimpey’s own health and safety manual for the site, however, it had been missed on this particular plot, according to the HSE.

It said that had a suitably designed back propping been used, it is unlikely the incident would have occurred.

Taylor Wimpey UK Limited pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £800,000 and ordered to pay £6,240.25 costs with a £2000 victim surcharge at the North Somerset Magistrates’ Court on 3 June 2025.

HSE inspector Derek Mclauchlan said “Everyone working in construction has a responsibility to ensure people are safe.

“Any work involving structural stability is potentially high risk and proper planning and implementation should be given.

“This incident could have been avoided had the right steps been taken.

“The failures of Taylor Wimpey resulted in a young man at the very beginning of his career being injured. Charlie was lucky those injuries were not far more serious.

“Lessons should be learned.”