A London-based property developer has been fined more than £88,000 after a series of serious health and safety breaches were uncovered at a construction site in Dalston.
Nofax Enterprises Limited was overseeing the construction of a four-storey residential building, including a basement youth club, when the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) made four separate site visits between 2020 and 2021.
What inspectors found was deeply concerning:
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Unsafe work at height
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Poor fire precautions
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Exposure to dangerous levels of silica and wood dust
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Inadequate COVID and welfare controls
The site’s conditions were so severe that HSE shut it down on two separate occasions. In total, Nofax Enterprises was served with nine enforcement notices, including five prohibition notices. Additional inspections at other sites revealed systemic failings and a poor overall health and safety culture within the company.
Exposure to wood and silica dust is not a minor issue—it can lead to long-term, potentially fatal illnesses including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), nasal and lung cancers, and silicosis.
Despite repeated warnings, enforcement notices, and visits, the company failed to make any meaningful improvements. At a hearing on 18 March 2025, Nofax Enterprises Limited pleaded guilty to breaches of sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The firm was fined £63,000 and ordered to pay £25,622 in costs, bringing the total to £88,812.68.
In the judge’s words, there had been a “systemic failure within the organisation” to manage basic safety standards over a prolonged period.
This case serves as a stark reminder that construction companies—including developers—have legal responsibilities under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. Design professionals also have a duty to ensure that developers are made aware of their obligations.
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Is your construction site compliant with HSE standards? Compass HSC can support developers, contractors, and design professionals with site audits, dust exposure assessments, CDM guidance, and more. Contact us today to ensure your projects stay safe, legal, and efficient.
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