The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned businesses to ensure that they have safe systems of work in place during lifting and removal activities. This follows HSE's prosecution of Brookfield Construction UK Ltd (formerly known as Multiplex Construction UK Ltd), and their sub-contractor Scheldebouw UK Ltd, after a worker suffered a broken pelvis when a panel of glass fell on him.
Scheldebouw UK Ltd, of 26 Mastmaker Road, Isle of Dogs, was fined £20,000 with costs of £10,000, after pleading guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Brookfield Construction UK Ltd of 40 Berkeley Square, London, was also fined £18,000 with costs of £9,962 after pleading guilty to the same breach.
Lisa Chappell, HSE inspector said: "This incident once again highlights the need for contractors to ensure that all aspects of lifting and removal operations are fully planned and measures to work safely are clearly communicated to all workers. Had these simple steps been taken, the injuries to Mr Rooney could have been avoided."
On 16 March 2006 at a Multiplex Construction UK site in Manresa Road, Kensington and Chelsea, John Rooney, a lorry driver, was injured when a 600kg panel of glass fell on him while he was standing on the back of another company's lorry.
At the time of the incident, the subcontractor Scheldebouw UK Ltd was removing glass panels from the roof of the site. Mr Rooney was standing on the back of his lorry, waiting for a scaffold stillage (which is used to carry materials) to be lowered on to his lorry. Next to him was another lorry owned by a different contractor, which was transporting the glass panels from the site. The lorries were close together and there was a significant camber in the road, which meant the bed of the lorry transporting the panels was not level and was tilting towards the pavement.
An A-frame stillage containing three glass panels was lowered on to the adjacent lorry. In an effort to assist the other lorry, Mr Rooney climbed on to it and one of the glass panels fell on to him, causing his injuries.
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Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News and PR London.
Regional reporters should call the appropriate regional COI press office who act as HSE's Press Office throughout Great Britain.
