HSE warns about dangers of falling from vehicles following death of tanker driver

Date:

17 October 2008

Release No:

SCO/158/08

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today warned about the dangers of falling from vehicles following the death of a Central Scotland tanker driver who fell three metres from the top of his vehicle because his employer failed to provide a safe place to work.

The warning came after the employer Carntyne Transport Ltd of Glasgow pleaded guilty to a charge laid under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which requires employers to provide a safe place and safe systems of work.  

At Cupar Sheriff Court yesterday, they were fined a total of £5000.    

At 6.30am on 9 February 2007, the driver of the tanker, Mr James Robert Hutchinson from Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire was found by two farm workers.  It appeared that he had fallen three metres from the midpoint of his tanker after setting the valves for a delivery of liquid animal feed.  There was no safety rail on the driver’s side of the vehicle.

HSE Inspector Robert Fraser said:

"Mr Hutchinson’s death was entirely preventable and arose from the clear failure to carry out a risk assessment and ensure there was safe access to the top of the vehicle.

"Although Workplace Transport injuries form a fairly small part of all accidents at work, they are more likely to result in serious injuries and much more likely to lead to fatalities. 

"HSE figures have shown that every week one person dies from a slip, trip or fall at work and every 25 minutes, someone breaks or fractures a bone at work. This is unacceptable and employers should ensure that they do everything in their power to prevent this type of accident occurring."

Notes to editors

1. Section 2(1) of the Health & 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.”

Public enquiries

Call HSE's InfoLine, Tel: 08701 545500,
or write to: HSE InfoLine, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.

Press enquiries (Journalists only)

Katy Jeffrey, COI News and PR Scotland on 0131 244 9062

HSE information and press releases can be accessed on the Internet: http://www.hse.gov.uk

Information on HSE in Scotland can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/scotland

Issued on behalf of HSE by COI News and PR Scotland.