Two firms fined for worker’s excavator-crush injuries

A construction worker suffered two broken legs when a 22-tonne excavator reversed over him at a building site in Leeds.
Malcolm Littledyke was working for Jack Lunn (Construction) Ltd when the incident took place, on 30 June 2008. The firm had been appointed principal contractor for the building of new homes at a site in Bedford Garth, and had contracted Fastsource Ltd to flatten the land.
On the day of the incident, Mr Littledyke was erecting a security fence around the site. At the same time, a Fastsource employee was operating an excavator on an access road at the site. The road was too narrow for the vehicle to turn around so the driver reversed it down the road with the aid of a banksman.
Mr Littledyke was standing in the road, erecting the fence, while the excavator reversed. The banksman had not been adequately trained, and was standing in front of the excavator,when it reversed and struck Mr Littledyke, knocking him to the ground running over his legs. He suffered multiple fractures to both legs and required numerous operations to reset the bones, and for skin and muscle grafts. He has been unable to return to work owing to his injuries.
HSE inspector Sarah Lee visited the site on the same day and issued a Prohibition Notice, which halted vehicle movement until a system was in place to protect pedestrians.
The inspector told SHP that both companies had failed to address the risks of failing to separate pedestrians from moving vehicles. This could have been addressed by installing barriers to create a safe pedestrian walkway and also by having a competent banksman. She added: “Workplace transport incidents are one of the biggest killers in the construction industry and this case could easily have been fatal.
“The danger of collisions between heavy plant and pedestrians on construction sites is well known in the industry, and the need for vehicles to reverse should be avoided. €
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Two firms fined for worker’s excavator-crush injuries
A construction worker suffered two broken legs when a 22-tonne excavator reversed over him at a building site in Leeds.
Safety & Health Practitioner
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