Skip businessman sentenced over safety breaches

A Surrey businessman has been sentenced to 240 hours of community service after he ignored notices to stop dangerous work at his premises on an industrial estate in Guildford.

Mark Mason, 38, pleaded guilty to the health and safety breaches at Guildford Crown Court relating to Peter Mason Skip Hire at North Moors, Slyfield Industrial Estate.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors had visited the premises on June 4, 2009 when they discovered that skips and general waste were stored in a way that put staff at risk from falling objects.

They issued an Improvement Notice ordering the reduction of skips and waste materials on the site, only to find out on July 27, 2009 that Mr Mason had ignored the original order.

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HSE officials then served the company with a Prohibition Notice ordering all work at the site to stop immediately, including the handling and emptying of skips. It also prevented access to the workshop until materials could be stored correctly.

Mr Mason was convicted for breaching section 2(1), of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and breaching sections 21 and 22 of the Act for contravening the Improvement and Prohibition Notices issued upon him.”s