In a disturbing incident, three companies have collectively been fined £420,000 following an incident at the Moonfleet Manor hotel construction site in Weymouth, Dorset, where a three-year-old child suffered a fractured skull after being struck by a falling slate tile.

The incident occurred on June 13, 2019, as the child was leaving the hotel with her father and older brother after a swimming lesson. The slate, which fell approximately five meters from the hotel roof, led to the child receiving first aid on-site before being hospitalised. She was placed in an induced coma for stabilisation and underwent a two-hour operation to remove slate fragments from her head.

Rocare Building Services Limited, responsible for renovating the hotel roof, faced charges for breaching Regulation 13(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and Regulation 10(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The company was fined £160,000 and ordered to pay costs of £15,554.78.

Quadra Built Environmental Consultancy Limited, hired as the principal designer, was found guilty of breaching Regulation 10(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, resulting in a £60,000 fine and £25,000 in costs.

LFH (Moonfleet Manor) Limited, the hotel’s owner, faced charges of breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and received a £200,000 fine along with costs amounting to £143,482.04.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed that inadequate safety measures, including unfit scaffolding, were in place. Moonfleet Manor was criticised for prioritising guest convenience over safety by neglecting measures to prevent falling objects in a busy area.

HSE inspector Nicole Buchanan emphasised the severe impact of the incident on the child and her family, highlighting the potential fatality. She stressed the collective responsibility of clients and construction companies to ensure both workers and the public’s safety, urging compliance with industry standards.