Firm that left Grenfell-type cladding exposed in Liverpool fined £240k

An inspector who visited the site found "combustible material had been left exposed" by preparatory work, the HSE said

A firm has been fined £240,000 after cladding similar to that used on Grenfell Tower was left on the balconies of an apartment block.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said an inspector found the combustible material while checking work at the Circle on Henry Street in Liverpool.

Green Facades Limited, from London, admitted the safety breaches at Liverpool Magistrates Court.

HSE said it had previously committed similar breaches at a site in London.

A representative said "potentially dangerous aluminium composite panels and combustible insulation material" which was "similar to that used on Grenfell Tower when the 2017 disaster occurred" was being taken off the eight-storey building in January 2022.

'Disturbing irony'

They said an inspector who visited the site on 10 January found "combustible material had been left exposed" by preparatory work and there were "inadequate means of escaping from the scaffold which was being erected".

A further inspection 11 days later found more of the material had been exposed "with no protection from potential sources of ignition, and combustible cladding material was found lying on residents' balconies".

The HSE said after that inspection, the inspector alerted Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service who "took their own enforcement action" due to the block having residents.

The representative said an earlier investigation of a site in London found that Green Facades Limited had "failed to take appropriate precautions to address the risk of fire and to ensure the safety of residents, workers, and others".

They said the firm, which is based near Greenwich, had also "failed to take account of published guidance on the safe removal of cladding following the issue in London".

The company admitted breaching two safety regulations stipulated in the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Jackie Western said the "disturbing irony" of the case was that work to "protect residents from fire risk ended up making the situation more dangerous".

"Despite earlier interventions and advice from HSE... this company continued to fail in its duty to address the risk of fire, putting people's lives at risk," the inspector added.

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