Serious Injuries Highlight Failures in Dismantling Operations
An event structure company, iSkate Limited, and its director, Neil Munn, have been fined following a serious incident where an employee suffered life-changing injuries during the dismantling of an internal steel frame. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed significant failings in the planning and execution of the work, underscoring the critical importance of robust safety protocols in high-hazard activities.
The incident occurred on 26 June 2024, at the Beaverbrook Hotel & Golf Course in Leatherhead, Surrey. Natalie McCreith, a 38-year-old employee with 14 years of experience, sustained multiple back fractures, a punctured lung, and a broken leg. She underwent an 11-hour operation and spent three months in hospital, with her recovery still ongoing.
HSE Investigation Uncovers Planning Deficiencies
The HSE's investigation found that iSkate Limited failed to ensure the dismantling of the steel frame was properly planned and carried out safely. HSE inspector Russell Beckett commented, “Demolition and dismantling is a high-hazard work activity, but if the work is properly planned it can be carried out safely. This accident has had a devastating effect on Ms McCreith and could easily have been prevented had the right work equipment been used.”
The company, iSkate Limited, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. They were fined £12,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,949 at Guildford Magistrates' Court on 28 July 2026.
Director Neil Munn also pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, by virtue of Regulation 16(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and Regulation 20(1). He received a community order requiring him to complete 75 hours of unpaid work. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) apply to all construction projects in the UK and set out specific duties for clients, designers, and contractors to ensure health and safety throughout a project's lifecycle.
The Broader Landscape of Enforcement Action
This case is one of many recent examples highlighting the stringent enforcement approach taken by regulatory bodies in the UK and Ireland. In 2025, the total value of fines issued to employers for health and safety violations in Britain reached nearly £40.9 million, with the number of serious breaches leading to prosecution charges steadily increasing from 428 in 2023 to 496 in 2025.
Related training: If you are looking to qualify as a trainer in this area, see health and safety trainer qualifications or explore lone worker safety training for nationally recognised UK and Ireland qualifications.
Notable fines in 2024 and 2025 in the UK included a £6 million penalty for Cambridgeshire County Council for systemic safety failures on the Cambridge Guided Busway, where three people were killed and at least two seriously injured over ten years. Other significant fines in 2024 included Veolia Recycling receiving £3 million after a worker was killed and another seriously injured, and Openreach being fined £1.34 million following an engineer's fatal accident.
In Ireland, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) continues its robust enforcement. In 2024, the HSA conducted over 11,600 workplace inspections and investigations, with a particular focus on high-risk sectors such as construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare. The HSA secured 23 convictions in 2024, with fines ranging from €5,000 to €250,000. A recent case in Wicklow Circuit Court saw a homebuilding company fined €125,000 and a scaffolding company €65,000 following a fatal incident on a construction site in December 2019, where a worker fell through an unprotected gap. Additionally, a Cork agricultural business faced a €65,000 fine in April 2024 after a farmer lost all fingers on his right hand due to a removed safety guard on an auger.
The consistent message from both the HSE and HSA is that employers must prioritise regular risk assessments, implement effective safety management systems, and provide adequate training to prevent accidents and protect their workforce. Failure to do so carries severe legal, financial, and human consequences.
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