Editor, UBM

October 27, 2016

Get the SHP newsletter

Daily health and safety news, job alerts and resources

Worker suffers serious head injuries in platform fall

A waste equipment maintenance firm has been fined after an employee suffered serious head injuries when a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) overturned.

Geoffrey Hatton, 49, from County Durham, and a colleague were taking large pieces of cladding off the frame of a compactor, while in the process of dismantling it at a site in Cheshire.

A large piece of the cladding came into contact with the MEWP, and caused it to fall over. Mr Hatton, who was in the MEWP, fractured his skull and two ribs in the incident and spent two months in hospital.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), found serious safety failings by Cole Mechanical Services Ltd. The MEWP was being used outside when it was only suitable for internal work.

The investigation also found that employees were not trained in how to use MEWPs or how to erect tower scaffolding, and no risk assessment had been conducted for the work being carried out.

The HSE also found that at the time of the incident another worker was working on a fragile roof with no protection to prevent falls.

Cole Mechanical Services Ltd of Ashbridge Road, Chesham, Buckinghamshire pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1)of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,995.

 

The Safety Conversation Podcast: Listen now!

The Safety Conversation with SHP (previously the Safety and Health Podcast) aims to bring you the latest news, insights and legislation updates in the form of interviews, discussions and panel debates from leading figures within the profession.

Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, subscribe and join the conversation today!

Related Topics

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments