PROSECUTION WORKPLACE TRANSPORT

Reversing lorry leads to death of teenager 

Associated Waste Management Ltd of Brighouse, West Yorkshire, has been fined £75k and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £10k at Bradford Crown Court following prosecution after a fatal incident in which an 18-year-old employee was struck by a reversing lorry at a waste management depot in Shipley, West Yorkshire. On 12 April 2007 the employee, working in the tipping area of the yard, was hit by a skip loader, which was reversing without the benefit of any visual aids, audible warning alarm or guidance.

HSE inspector Paul Robinson said: ”If the risks been assessed, equipment been properly maintained and if appropriate safeguards been put in place it might never have happened” and added that ” if work on the site had been properly planned to ensure separation between employees and manoeuvring vehicles, and the movement of vehicles had been properly supervised, this young worker may still be alive today”

Comment: This death did not occur in the construction sector although skip loaders are to be found on many construction projects where the lessons are equally valid

This article was posted on 8th January 2009 in ALL LATEST NEWS, PROSECUTIONS, vehicles.
PP Construction Safety H&S Assistance and Consultancy service.

«
»