Worker is left paralysed after being crushed by steel beam

Date:

27 August 2010

Release No:

YH/206/10

A Doncaster housing developer was today fined £30,000 after a worker was left paralysed from the chest down when he was crushed by a steel beam weighing more than 660 pounds.

Anton Burrows, 24, from Dewsbury was working as part of a bricklaying team sub-contracted to Strata Homes Yorkshire Ltd, at their Suede Development construction site in Oxley Road, Huddersfield, on 7 April 2009 when the incident occurred.

Mr Burrows was helping a driver of a telescopic forklift truck to lift the steel beam onto two brick pillars. Although the beam initially landed as intended, as the forklift was withdrawing, the forks caught the beam, dislodging it from the pillars. Mr Burrows walked into the area as this happened, and the beam crashed down on top of him.

He suffered extensive injuries, including spinal damage, which resulted in him being left quadriplegic.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Strata Homes Yorkshire Ltd, of Quay Point, Lakeside, Doncaster for its role in the incident. The company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8 of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £16,062 in costs.

After the hearing HSE Inspector Alasdair Green said:

"The terrible injuries sustained in this incident have changed the way of life for Mr Burrows and his family for ever."

"Had the lifting operation been properly planned and supervised, in line with the regulations, the Approved Code of Practice and HSE's guidance, this devastating incident which could have very easily killed someone, would have been avoided."

"Today's prosecution must serve to remind all employers of their duties and responsibilities in protecting workers during lifting operations so that others do not suffer in this way."

Further information on safe working during lifting operations can be found on the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg290.htm and at http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/

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. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Regulation 8 of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 states that "Every employer shall ensure that every lifting operation involving lifting equipment is properly planned by a competent person; appropriately supervised; and carried out in a safe manner."
3. A photograph of the incident site is available upon request

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