A Feltham-based construction firm was fined a six-figure sum after a worker was crushed to death on the building site of a £700 million science building.

Sub-contractor Richard Laco, 31, was killed by a concrete staircase being installed at The Francis Crick Institute building in Kings Cross, on November 6, 2013.

His employer, CMF Ltd of Central Way, Feltham, have been fined £185,000 after a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found there was no safe system of work in place for the installation of the staircases throughout the project.

HSE inspector, Stephen Farthing, said: “This incident could have been prevented if the company had properly planned the lifting process before work had begun.

Richard Laco died on the site of the multi-million pound Francis Crick building

“Duty holders have the responsibility of ensuring that safe and suitable lifting plans are in place before carrying out any work involved with heavy loads.”

CMF Ltd, one of the larger UK metalwork fabrication companies, with a turnover of over £25m, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was ordered to pay £20,606 costs on top of the fine.

CMF Ltd in Feltham were fined £185,000 after a Health and Safety Executive investigation

Southwark Crown Court heard that the company failed to appropriately supervise this work activity, which led to the tragic death of employee Mr Laco.

The sub-contractor had been working on the multi-million pound Francis Crick Institute building, housing the biggest biomedical research facility under a single roof in Europe.

A silent vigil, attended by his family and members of Camden Unison and Camden Trades Council, was held after Mr Laco's death.

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