Company fined following death of worker
Viridor Waste Management Ltd has been fined after a man was fatally injured in a lorry runaway incident at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth in June 2015.
The employee had been using a lorry vehicle on a downward sloping road outside of the incinerator building. The employee was in the process of coupling the lorry to the skip trailer on this road when he lost control of the vehicle. When he attempted to prevent the vehicle from running away he was drawn under the trailer and sustained fatal injuries
An HSE investigation established that the handbrake of the lorry had not been applied and that there was no suitable and sufficient specific risk assessment to address the waste collection operation on site. As a result the work had not been appropriately planned.
Breaches
Viridor Waste Management Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(1)(a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999:
- Regulation 3(1)(a) requires that every employer undertakes a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of risks to health and safety of their employees while at work.
Penalty
Viridor Waste Management Ltd was fined £237,500 and ordered to pay costs of £128,428.94.
Transport company fined for failure to provide a safe system of work and adequate training for staff
Colin Lawson Transport Limited has been fined after failing to provide a safe system of work and adequate training for their staff after a worker suffered fatal crush injuries.
The employee was killed when they became trapped between two heavy goods vehicles in May 2016.
Breaches
The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 and Section 33(1) (a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
- Under Section 2 it is the responsibility of every employer is required to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees
- Under Section 33(1) (a) it is an offense for a person to fail to discharge a duty to which s/he is subject by virtue of Sections 2 to 7 (these sections set out general duties of employers, manufacturers and employees).
Penalty
Colin Lawson Transport Limited was fined £180,000.
Contractors fined for failing to put proper procedures and safeguards in place
BAM Nuttall and McNealy Brown have been fined after failing to put proper procedures and safeguards in place to prevent a third-party painter from falling through a ceiling.
On 7 January 2015, the injured man fell around 10 feet through a waiting room ceiling at East Croydon railway station. The man, aged 31 at the time of the accident, suffered severe ligament damage and has been unable to return to work as an industrial painter. The fall occurred through an unguarded fragile roof.
The court heard that although the injured man had received a site induction on arrival, he was not fully briefed on the risk assessment and the controls it set out.
On the second visit by the injured party, a safety briefing was not provided and the man was not warned about fragile roofs present.
Breaches
BAM Nuttall and McNealy Brown were found guilty of breaching Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974:
- Section 3 requires that employers conduct their undertaking in a way to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in their employment are no exposed to risks to their health or safety.
Penalty
BAM Nuttall and McNealy Brown were fined £900,000 and £65,000 respectively. Costs of £7,157 were also awarded.
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