Firms fined after worker crushed to death by concrete

Date:

14 March 2011

Release No:

HSE-e-12-11

Two companies have been fined a total of £130,000 after an Aylesbury worker was killed by a 31-tonne concrete beam on a building site in Thurrock.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the two firms - Micor Ltd of Stock Road, West Hanningfield, Chelmsford, and Crane and Transport Services Ltd of Hartley, Kent - after the incident on 6 April 2006.

The court heard that Gary Drinkald, 43, was working for Micor Ltd during the overnight demolition work of the A1306 Stifford Rail Bridge, West Thurrock, Essex. A 31-tonne concrete beam had been removed from the bridge and placed on the back of a low loader lorry. The chains securing the beam were removed from the crane before it was secured to the low loader. The beam then fell - crushing Mr Drinkald under it.

Micor Ltd was the main demolition contractor, and pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They were fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £20,000 at Basildon Crown Court on Friday 11 March 2011.

Crane and Transport Services Ltd, was subcontracted to provide staff to supervise the lifting procedure and pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. They were fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs of £10,000.

Following the hearing, HSE Inspector Nicola Surrey said:

"A family, including four children have had their lives devastated by this tragic incident. With adequate planning and supervision of how the concrete beam should have been secured on the low loader lorry, this outcome could have been avoided. This case is a warning to other employers that there are serious consequences for not protecting their workforce."

Both Micor Ltd and Crane and Transport Services Ltd pleaded guilty to the above charges in Southend Crown Court on 27 May 2010.

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.
2. Nicola Surrey is available for interview. Please call COI on 01223 370 787.
3. Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states that "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."
4. Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety."
5. Regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 states:(1) Every employer shall ensure that every lifting operation involving lifting equipment is -
   1. properly planned by a competent person;
   2. appropriately supervised; and
   3. carried out in a safe manner.
6. Ainscough Crane Hire Ltd, which was subcontracted to supply and manage the lifting operation and associated plant and materials was acquitted of all charges at a hearing at Basildon Crown Court in January 2011.

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