London's prestigious Savoy Hotel has been heavily fined for failing to control and monitor the activities of contractors on it's site after a teenage window cleaner was severely injured in a fall from a second floor window.

The youth who worked for Oakwood Services (London) Ltd suffered a separated pelvis and severe bruising, and only escaped death because a pigeon netting broke his fall. The court heard that an investigation by Westminster Council revealed a failure to apply safe systems of work for window cleaning.

The Savoy pleaded guilty under Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and to failing to coordinate with the contractor under Regulation 9(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at work Regulations 1999.

The hotel was fined £6,000 with £16,000 costs, while the contractor was fined £3,000 with £500 costs.

The Council's Chairman of Leisure and Environment, Judith Warner, said after the case: "This clearly demonstrates the general lack of health and safety cooperation between the hotel and cleaning contractors. By prosecuting, we are sending a stern warning to all business owners and contractors that serious penalties will result if safe working standards are jeopardised."


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