A large UK homebuilders and one of its contractors have been prosecuted after a telehandler overturned, resulting in the death of a worker and seriously injuring two others.
Banbury Crown Court heard that Linden Ltd was the principal contractor during the construction of 18 residential properties in Broughton Road, Banbury, Oxfordshire. On the morning of 11 January 2008, three ceramic tilers who were working at the site, Michael Whateley, his brother Robert Whateley, and Paul Keen, were waiting in a car for the building plot to be unlocked.
Keith Payne, who was a sub-contractor at the site, was carrying out routine checks on a telescopic materials handler. As part of the tests he raised and then fully extended the 12-metre unloaded boom of the telehandler, which was parked on unstable ground and on a slope. This caused the truck to overturn and the forks at the end of the boom landed on the workers’ car, crushing the roof of the vehicle.
Michael Whateley died at the scene from serious head injuries. Robert Whateley suffered fractures to his spine, and a brain injury. Paul Keen suffered neck and spinal injuries, a broken ankle, broken ribs and a fractured breastbone.
The HSE’s investigation found that Payne had not followed the telehandler’s operating instructions to ensure that the vehicle was positioned on suitable ground before operating the vehicle. It also identified that Linden Ltd had failed to properly maintain the machine, and the tyre pressures were lower than the recommended levels.
HSE inspector James Powell said: “This was a horrific accident that was totally avoidable. Construction sites have inherent risks, and even rough-terrain lift trucks have strict operational limits that need to be observed. With competent operation and suitable maintenance, tragedies like this should not happen.
“Lives have been destroyed here and this sentencing must serve to remind all employers and employees of their duties and responsibilities while using this type of machinery.”
Payne appeared in court on 22 November and pleaded guilty to breaching s7 of the HSWA 1974 and was fined £7000. No costs were sought because of his lack of financial means.
In mitigation, he told the court that he had no previous convictions and deeply regretted the incident. He also said he thought the vehicle was on suitable ground when he carried out the checks, but he now accepts this was not the case.
Linden Ltd appeared at the same hearing and pleaded guilty to breaching reg. 5 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. It was fined £7500 and ordered to pay £25,000 towards costs.
The company told the court that the accident was not a direct result of its actions and was primarily the fault of Mr Payne. It also said it had fully cooperated with the HSE’s investigation and had no previous convictions.
A spokesperson for the firm said: “We accept that the tyres on the JCB telehandler were lower than the manufacturers recommended pressure.
“We should like to make it clear that there is no causal connection between this offence and the tragic accident that happened on the site.”
