A CHESHIRE construction company has been hit with a £5,000 fine after failing to provide its workers with 'adequate' facilities to wash their hands.

Tarporley-based CB Homes Ltd was carrying out work at a site in Bunbury Lane, Alpraham, when the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) paid a visit on March 23 this year.

During its proactive inspection, the HSE found the company had not upheld its legal duty to provide suitable welfare facilities for its workers.

The company said, while it provides hot water at all of its sites, on this occasion the hot water provision was located away from the toilet block, 'which the HSE deemed unreasonable'.

A CB Homes spokesman said: "As a local, multi-award-winning house builder, our number one priority is ensuring the health and safety of all our personnel on site.

"On all our sites we have hot water and welfare facilities available. However, on this occasion, hot water was located in the main welfare unit a few metres away from the toilet block, so not directly available in the toilet, which HSE deemed unreasonable.

"We acknowledge and respect the HSE’s decision. Moving forward we will ensure that hot water is directly available in all our toilet blocks."

Prosecuted by HSE enforcement lawyer Chloe Ward, the case was heard at Chester Magistrates Court this week.

CB Homes of Portal Business Park, off Eaton Lane, pleaded guilty to breaching Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,984.

The court also heard the HSE had served an improvement notice in relation to the offences, which the company subsequently complied with.

HSE inspector Sara Andrews said: "This company showed a flagrant disregard towards the health of its own workers.

"It’s a legal requirement to provide suitable welfare facilities, including a clean supply of warm water to enable workers to wash their hands in what is often a very dirty environment.

"The provision of suitable washing facilities is key to ensuring that the risk of workers developing some health conditions is adequately controlled. It’s also basic hygiene and the right thing to do.”

"Failure to provide them is a serious matter and, when a company falls short, we will take action. In this case, repeated failure has resulted in prosecution."

This was the fourth incident where the HSE discovered the company had failed to provide such facilities, having taken enforcement action on three previous occasions.