David Robert Lane, 59, was the site manager of an extensive cottage refurbishment in Staffordshire when unsafe work caught the attention of two inspectors from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). The pair had been carrying out routine inspections in the Rugeley area on 11th February 2025 when they saw two people on the site accessing a roof from the bucket of an excavator.
Clearly identifying the practice to be unsafe, the inspectors decided they had to stop and take action.
There were around 10 workers on the site and when the inspectors approached, Lane, who would later be identified as the site manager, came over to intervene. He refused to identify himself, except as James Bond, and rebuffed their attempts to inspect the site. He went on to tell the inspectors he was in fact the property owner, that the men on site were unpaid friends and relatives, and that they had no legal right to inspect. He followed that up with threats of violence, at which point the inspectors withdrew.
The two inspectors returned to the site a week later, accompanied by officers from Staffordshire Police. Site manager Lane greeted them with a shout of 鈥淚t鈥檚 PC Plod!鈥� while still refusing to identify himself. He maintained that he was the owner, told all his staff not to speak to HSE, except to confirm that they were his relatives and not at work, and told the inspectors once again that they had no right to inspect and to leave the site.
After making several enquiries, the inspectors were able to identify Lane as the site manager 鈥� this resulted in him being served with enforcement action.
On receiving notification that he was to be prosecuted for the offence of obstruction, under 2 counts of section 33(1)(h) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, he responded with three expletive laden emails, and said 鈥淚 won鈥檛 jump through your hoops鈥�.
HSE defines work-related violence as 鈥榓ny incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work鈥�. This can include verbal abuse or threats, including face to face, online and via telephone and physical attacks. It can include violence from members of the public, customers, clients, patients, service users and students towards a person at work.
David Robert Lane, of Talbot Street, Rugeley, Staffordshire, failed to attend Birmingham Magistrates Court on two occasions, and on the latter was found guilty after being tried in his absence. He was fined 拢3,000, ordered to pay full costs of 拢6,450 and must pay a victim surcharge of 拢1,200.
HSE inspector Gareth Langston said after the hearing: 鈥淭his case highlights the difficulties we face in trying to improve the health and safety of workers across Great Britain. HSE inspectors have an important job to do, in safeguarding the health, safety and welfare of people at work. This includes investigating incidents and securing justice for innocent workers and the families that are tragically left behind.
鈥淲e conduct more than 13,000 inspections every year and it is through this proactive engagement that we are able to advise employers on how they can improve their ways of working, we only take enforcement action when the circumstances require it.
鈥淲e accept that not all employers will be pleased to see us, but the vast majority are professional and accept us with good grace.
鈥淗SE will not tolerate the obstruction of its inspectors, and may prosecute offenders in rare cases such as this, where this is necessary.鈥�
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