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Workman dies after collapsing during silo cleaning operations

Silo maintenance specialists, Silocheck Limited of Lincolnshire, have been ordered to pay £45k in fines and prosecution costs following an incident in August 2006. 

Employee Paul Sharp collapsed and died after suffering from heat exhaustion during cleaning work inside a silo.

HSE Inspector, Ian Whittles, said: “This tragic incident highlights the importance of appropriate training and emergency arrangements, especially when working within confined spaces. In this case, there were no appropriate systems of work, particularly with regard to access.”

Comment: A hot summer is expected in GB in 2009. This will add to the risk of heat stress particulary during work in confined spaces. Consideration of this risk needs to be included in heat stress risk assessment where the hazard is reasonably expected to be present.

This article was posted on 6th June 2009 in ALL LATEST NEWS.
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