The Central England Municipals Limited (CEML) apprentice employee was working alongside an experienced mechanic replacing air suspension bags beneath a 39,000kg trailer. The air suspension bag was still under pressure and ejected sideways striking the injured person.
The employee suffered a fractured skull and was placed in an induced coma as a result of this incident.
The HSE’s investigation into the incident, which occurred on 5 June 2017, found failures in:
Central England Municipals Limited (trading as M6 Commercials) of Nechells, Birmingham pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £20,000 with costs of £921.40.
Speaking after the case HSE inspector Christopher Maher said: “If a suitable safe system of work has been in place prior to the incident, the life changing injuries sustained by the employee could have been prevented.”
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