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Weight fell from machine frame during flawed dismantling operation
Glasgow demolition contractor, Whiteinch Demolition Limited, has been fined after a worker died when a weight from a face shovel machine fell on him.
On 12 May 2008 Bernard McCarroll, aged 68, was dismantling a hydraulic excavator at the company yard in Glasgow using a flame torch. The machine had a weight at the rear to assist stability. Whilst flame cutting bolts holding the weight to the frame of the machine part of it fell causing serious injuries and from which he later died.
HSE investigators found the dismantling operation had not been properly risk assessed or planned by the company. A safe system of work had not been devised for those carrying out the task. In addition, insufficient information and instruction had been made available by the company with regard to the assembly of the machine.
Lack of assessment and planning
At Glasgow Sheriff Court (29 August 2011) Whiteinch Demolition Ltd, of Centurion Works, Balmuildy Road, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974. It was fined £15,000
Illustrative purposes only
After the hearing, HSE Inspector Russell Berry said:
“The dismantling operation had not been planned sufficiently and it was left to Mr McCarroll to decide how to carry out the task as it progressed.
In failing to carry out a risk assessment for this job and failing to plan a safe method of carrying out the work, Whiteinch Demolition Ltd failed to protect Bernard McCarroll and it cost him his life.
This incident was entirely foreseeable and could have easily been avoided. If straightforward steps had been taken then Mr McCarroll would undoubtedly be alive today.”