A dock worker at an Essex Port had both legs amputated after they were crushed by a freight container.
William James, 73, was working at Stanton Grove Ltd’s berth 47 at the Port of Tilbury when the incident took place on 2010. He had been helping to lift cargo containers on to and off of a ship.
Mr James was positioned on the quayside and was attaching spring-loaded clamps to containers, which were used to either secure the unit to the ship’s deck or to another container.
He was returning to a safe refuge under a quayside crane when he was knocked down by a 45ft container, which was being lowered by a reach stacker. The driver of the vehicle, unaware that Mr James was on the quayside and had been knocked down, continued to lower the container on to his legs. They were crushed to such a degree that they later had to be amputated. He has been unable to return to work owing to his injuries.
The HSE’s investigation found that the company had failed to put measures in place to separate pedestrians and vehicles. There was also a lack of communication between workers, as they had not been provided with radios, and insufficient supervision of the work.
HSE inspector Toni Drury said: “It is common for a wide range of vehicles and equipment to have to use shared space on the docks. There may also be workers on foot undertaking tasks such as guiding loads, removing twistlocks, or supervising operations.
“Good coordination and cooperation between all those who are in control of the berth, the operations and the workforce are a necessity, and an agreed safe system of work must be properly communicated and training provided for all involved.”
Stanton Grove Ltd appeared at Basildon Crown Court on 31 July and pleaded guilty to breaching s3(1) of the HSWA 1974 and was fined £20,000. The awarding of costs will be determined at a later date.
In mitigation, the firm said it no longer attaches the clamps on the dock but instead carries out the work on the ship deck. The company had no previous convictions.
Mr James’ employer Castlekeep Ltd had been contracted to supply staff to unload and load the containers. It was also prosecuted for alleged breaches to s2(1) of the HSWA 1974, and reg. 3(1)(a) of the MHSWR 1999 for failing to jointly plan the work safely. The company was found not guilty of these charges at an earlier
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