News Item: Company and Director Prosecuted for Repeated Poor Standards of Site Safety

A buy to let property developer and company director have been fined for poor health and safety standards on their construction site in Cardiff.

Cardiff Magistrates’ Court heard that JNR Developers Limited had consistently performed below required health and safety standards over a period of 10 years, despite interventions from HSE and enforcement action to remedy poor practice.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspections of refurbishment projects under the control of JNR Developers Limited in February, March and April 2018 uncovered serious management failings that had resulted in site activities being performed unsafely. Multiple risks were identified including structural safety concerns, unsafe work at height, poor electrical safety, substandard plant management and inadequate welfare that resulted in immediate enforcement action.

A subsequent HSE investigation into JNR Developers Limited and its director, Mehrdad Chegounchei, identified a long history of enforcement by HSE at construction sites under the control of Mr Chegounchei dating back over 10 years. The investigation also identified that poor safety management and leadership had continued at sites controlled by Mr Chegounchei, despite him receiving director health and safety training as a result of previous HSE enforcement action.

JNR Developers Limited, of Cyncoed, Cardiff pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £32,000 ordered to pay costs of £8,000.

Mehrded Chegounchei pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He received a six months custodial sentence, suspended for twelve months, and ordered to undertake eighty hours of unpaid work.