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Failure to plan, manage and monitor causes serious injury
Veolia Environmental Services Birmingham Ltd (VESB), of Birmingham and contractor Hansen Transmissions Ltd (HTL), of Huddersfield have been ordered to pay over over £214k in fines and prosecution costs after an employee of HTL fell more than 10 metres.
HSE Inspector Paul Smith said: “The system used by HTL was plainly unsafe – men, working 10m and more up in the air, were manoeuvring bulky plant using inappropriate methods, on and above an inadequate working platform, with markedly inadequate protection from the drop beneath. Any informed check upon this system of work should have identified its shortcomings and put a stop to it.”
He added: “VESB apparently expected the use of scaffolding and harnesses but did not check that the work was being done that way. There were no checks by VESB on the adequacy of the health and safety arrangements being employed by HTL’s staff. Site owners and operators must be aware of their duties towards contractors and others who work on their premises then take suitable steps to ensure their safety.