HSE/NW/122/07 27 November 2007

HSE warns employers of the need for proper risk assessments after maintenance worker dies at amusement park

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned amusement park operators of the need to carry out proper risk assessments for maintenance work. The warning follows HSE’s prosecution of a fairground in Southport after the death of a maintenance worker.

Pleasureland Ltd, the former operators of Pleasureland, Marine Drive, Southport were fined £95,000 and ordered to pay £50,000 costs at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety etc Act 1974 and  Regulation 3(1)(a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

On 25 August 2004, 59 year old William John Birchall was lubricating the Skyride, a chair lift style cable ride, at the amusement park and became entangled in the moving machinery. When he started to get into difficulty and needed the ride to be immediately stopped, he was unable to contact his colleague at the controls 200 metres away because his radio was out of reach.

HSE Inspector Charles Cottle said: “This was a terrible tragedy that could have been avoided had the correct procedures been in place. This case graphically illustrates that companies should ensure that safe working systems are in place for the safety of all their employees. Managers should ask themselves three questions – Do you know where maintenance staff go to do their work? What do they do when they get there? Are they safe while they are doing it?

With answers to these questions, companies are able to carry out a suitable assessment of the risk and put in place safe procedures for carrying out maintenance work. After the accident a much improved access was provided for the maintenance of the ride, an automatic lubrication system was installed and a fixed telephone provided to improve communications. Had these measures already been in place, they would have vastly reduced the risk of accident.”

The Pleasureland amusement park has subsequently closed. Any fairground now on the former site has no connection with Pleasureland Ltd, or with the parent group Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Holdings) Ltd.

Notes to editors:

1. The Health and Safety at Work etc 1974 Act sets out the responsibilities of employers and employees with regard to safety in the workplace.  Section 2(1) 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. Regulation 3(1)(a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states: “Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work”
3. Information on risk assessment can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/fivesteps.htm

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Issued on behalf of HSE by Government News Network North West