Company prosecuted after heavy motor crashes into lobby at Luton hospital

Date:

18 December 2012

Release No:

HSE-E-110

The lift winding motor that was dropped

A Banbury lift company has been fined after a lift motor weighing more than a tonne fell into a lobby at Luton & Dunstable Hospital, injuring a member of the public.

The heavy component was being hoisted over a hatch by Cotswold Lifts Limited when the incident occurred on 07 September 2010.

The impact caused structural damage to the concrete floor of the hospital lift lobby and to the ceiling of the level below. A member of the public who was waiting for the lift was injured by falling debris and was admitted to Accident & Emergency.

Luton & South Bedfordshire Magistrates' Court heard today (18 December) that the motor was being moved using a sling and block and tackle, but came loose and fell four metres.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found Cotswold Lifts failed to properly plan and manage the operation, or make suitable arrangements to protect employees, hospital staff, patients and members of the public.

HSE served a Prohibition Notice after the incident to stop the company using the same approach and equipment to move other items.

The lobby area showing hatch and damage to floor

Cotswold Lifts Limited, of 5 Thorpe Close, Thorpe Way Industrial Estate, Banbury, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act Etc Act 1974. The company was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £5,499 in costs.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector John Berezansky commented:

"Work on passenger and goods lifts is a high risk activity that causes significant numbers of serious and fatal injuries. The law broadly requires that competent persons plan, supervise and carry out lifting operations to ensure they are conducted safely.

"On this occasion Cotswold Lifts Limited failed to put suitable arrangements in place. Members of the public, including hospital staff and patients, had access to the danger area in the lift lobby below. It is a matter of good fortune that no-one was killed or more seriously injured when the metal motor came crashing down".

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. Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc 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".

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