A North London construction company and its director have been fined after repeatedly failing to comply with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforcement notices at a residential development site.

VNP Constructions Limited and its director, Vasilis Paraskeva, were prosecuted following ongoing safety concerns at a site on White Lion Street, London, where a former public house and adjoining building were being converted into residential flats.

The penalties follow a series of HSE inspections over a 12-month period, beginning with a proactive visit in September 2022, which identified serious health and safety failings.

What did inspectors find?

During inspections, HSE officers identified:

• Unsafe work at height practices

• Poor planning, management, and monitoring of construction activities

• Concerns around the competence of site management

• A failure to comply with both Prohibition and Improvement Notices

Despite enforcement action being taken, further site visits identified continued breaches, resulting in additional notices being served.

What can businesses take away from this?

1. Enforcement notices are not warnings, they’re legal instructions
Once an Improvement or Prohibition Notice is issued, the expectation is immediate and sustained action. Failing to comply significantly increases the risk of prosecution for both the business and its directors.

2. Planning on paper isn’t enough
Risk assessments and method statements only work if they’re actively implemented, monitored, and reviewed. Inspectors will look for what’s happening on site, not just what exists in a folder.

3. Competent supervision is critical
Poor site management was a key issue in this case. Businesses must ensure supervisors and managers have the knowledge, authority, and confidence to manage risks effectively as work progresses.

4. Directors can be held personally accountable
This case is a reminder that enforcement action doesn’t always stop at the company. Where failures are linked to neglect or lack of oversight, directors can face personal fines and reputational damage.

5. Repeated failings suggest deeper system issues
When the same problems are identified during multiple inspections, it points to a lack of ownership and follow-through. Effective health and safety management requires regular checks, clear accountability, and visible leadership.

Prevention is always cheaper than prosecution

In this case, the company and its director faced fines totalling over £18,000, plus costs. For many SMEs, penalties of this scale, combined with project delays and reputational harm could be detrimental. 

Early intervention, regular site reviews, and practical training are far more cost-effective than reacting to enforcement action.

Let’s talk about your business

If you’re unsure whether your current controls are working in practice, or if your managers would benefit from practical support around identifying and managing risk, BeyondSafety can help.

We work with businesses to provide clear, proportionate advice that fits how you actually operate, from site visits and risk assessments to supervisor training.

Cases such as this offer practical insight into how health and safety arrangements operate in real working environments.

Call us today on 0800 111 4461

To discuss your current situation or arrange a site visit, call us on 0800 111 4461.