A construction contractor has been fined after he and another worker were injured at a wildlife park.
Richard Lunch, 42, was fined at Haverford West Magistrates’ Court on 21 April after he and another worker were injured.
One worker was knocked unconscious and the other sustained serious injuries to his foot and ankle when the basket they were working from fell off the forks of a telehandler as it was being lowered to the ground.
They were working to erect a geodesic dome at Manor House Wildlife Park in Tenby.
Richard Lunch pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £2,000 with £1,002.80 costs at Haverford West Magistrates Court on Tuesday 21 April after he and another worker were injured.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that Richard Lynch, who was in control of the work, had no training in the management of health and safety on construction sites. He had not used a telehandler and man basket before and was unaware of the guidance setting out their safe use. He had not assessed the risks of using a telehandler and used an untrained driver to operate it.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Phil Nicolle said: “This incident was entirely foreseeable and could have been prevented. If Richard Lynch had planned and managed the task properly and identified the risks, he would have been able to ensure suitable equipment was used, and safe procedures implemented.”
