Man is left brain damaged by falling panel saw

Date:

25 August 2010

Release No:

SCO/176/10

A haulage company was today fined £5,000 after one of its employees suffered brain damage when he was struck on the head by a 290 kilogram panel saw.

Nicholas Holmes, 49, from Bradford, was delivering panel saws to the Saw Centre in Eglinton Street, Glasgow, on 16 August 2007 when one fell off the vehicle, hitting him on the head. Mr Holmes was left with permanent brain damage by the incident.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that Mr Holmes' employers, Joda Freight Limited, of Riparian Way, Crosshills, West Yorkshire, did not have a reliable system of communication in place to make sure their drivers were informed about the securing and stability of loads.

Mr Holmes had not been told anything about how the panel saws were secured in the lorry. When he removed the straps securing the saws, the load became unstable, causing the incident.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court today Joda Freight Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Following the case, HSE Inspector Jean Edgar said:

"This was a horrific incident and will have terrible consequences for Mr Holmes and his family for many years to come.

"Haulage companies must make sure information is properly communicated between drivers in how a load is secured and strapped. Verbal messages through a third party may not be enough.

"This is particularly important where the delivery driver did not load the vehicle - and has little information on the precise strapping method used to secure it.

"Every year around 70 people are killed and thousands more suffer major injuries in incidents involving vehicles in and around workplaces. A significant number of these occur during deliveries and collections. Suppliers, hauliers and recipients must cooperate and ensure their drivers are trained to assess delivery and collection risks and reduce them as far as possible."

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. http://www.hse.gov.uk/
2. In Scotland the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has sole responsibility for the raising of criminal proceedings for breaches of health and safety legislation.
3. 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."

Press enquiries

Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.

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