A partner in a construction firm has admitted failing to protect employees after a sub-contractor was run over by a telehandler.
John Handley, a partner in J&C Handley, was contracted to build a number of houses at Slalom Run, in Carlton, Nottinghamshire. On 2 July 2009, a consignment of breeze blocks were delivered to the site and Handley decided to use a telehandler to transport the delivery across the site.
But the blocks were banded together in such a way that a telehandler with forks could not pick them up. Handley placed a hydraulic grabber attachment on the telehandler to pick up the blocks, but this meant the load swayed as it was being transported. He then asked sub-contractor David Cotterill to walk alongside the vehicle to steady the load with his hands.
On the way accross the site Mr Cotterill slipped and fell under the front wheel of the telehandler. He broke his right foot, ankle and leg and has been unable to return to work owing to his injuries.
During the investigation HSE inspector, Lee Greatorex, found a number of other problems at the site, including poor welfare facilities and work-at-height failings. He identified multiple faults with scaffolding across the site, including missing guardrails and toe boards, incorrect use of clips, inadequate bracing, and unsuitable means of access.
On 4 August 2009, Inspector Greatorex issued a Prohibition Notice, which required the firm to make the scaffolding safe. He also issued an Improvement Notice, as there were no washing facilities with a supply of hot and cold water at the site.
Inspector Greatorex said: “In an ideal world the breeze blocks should have been delivered to their intended destination on the site, but this wasn’t possible. Therefore, Mr Handley should have properly planned the work and made sure the delivery arrived in the right format for the forks of a telehandler.
“When this didn’t happen, a rope should have been attached to enable Mr Cotterill to steady the load at a safe distance.
“Had Mr Handley taken the time to think through a safe system of work, then a man may not have suffered such serious injuries.”
John Handley appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 24 January and pleaded guilty to breaching s3(1) of the HSWA 1974. He was fined £5000 and ordered to pay £4000 towards costs.
Handley had no previous convictions and, in mitigation, he said this was an isolated case and stressed he had not put profit before safety. He has subsequently undergone additional safety management training and has complied with the enforcement notices.
Approaches to managing the risks associated Musculoskeletal disorders
In this episode of the Safety & Health Podcast, we hear from Matt Birtles, Principal Ergonomics Consultant at HSE’s Science and Research Centre, about the different approaches to managing the risks associated with Musculoskeletal disorders.
Matt, an ergonomics and human factors expert, shares his thoughts on why MSDs are important, the various prevalent rates across the UK, what you can do within your own organisation and the Risk Management process surrounding MSD’s.
