HSE/E/305:09 22 May 2009

Company fined after employee is injured in dumper incident at work

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is urging employers to ensure all staff are fully trained and competent when using workplace vehicles.

The call follows the sentencing today of Shorts Group Ltd, based in Ascot, Berkshire, after a male employee suffered serious injuries to his foot.

Shorts Group Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 at Maidenhead Magistrates Court. The court fined the company £5,000, and ordered them to pay costs of £1,772.80.

The investigation followed an incident on 21 May 2008 at a construction site in Bracknell Road, Warfield, where a demolition labourer was operating a skip-loading dumper on which he had received no formal training or instruction. During the course of his work, the dumper overturned and the employee became trapped underneath it, sustaining serious injuries to his foot as a result.

Karen Morris, HSE Inspector, said: “The company failed to provide this employee with suitable instruction, information and training, and this was clearly a contributory factor to this incident.

“Site dumpers are involved in around a third of construction transport incidents, causing many deaths and serious injuries, particularly to drivers. Skip-loading dumpers in particular are known to be comparatively unstable machines and are known to overturn in certain circumstances, creating a significant risk if they do so. Given this, HSE has produced clear guidance on training and safe operation of site dumpers, and therefore we expect trained and competent operators at all times.”

-Ends-

Notes to editors

1. Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.
2. HSE’s Construction Information Sheet 52 – Safe use of site dumpers – outlines the precautions necessary to ensure the safe use of dumpers on construction sites.

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