Worker fined after unstable lorry topples over and injures worker

Date:

12 October 2012

A worker unloading scaffold materials from a flatbed lorry was thrown from the vehicle and hit by its load of boards and tubes when it overturned a court was told today (12 October).

Martin Sapec, 54, of Edwardsville, Treharris suffered a broken pelvis and ankle in the incident at Bryntirion, Mountain Ash, on 15 August 2011.

The overturned lorry after the incident

Pontypridd Magistrates heard that Mr Sapec was helping delivery driver Wayne Ford to unload the scaffolding material while standing on the back of the lorry. The vehicle was fitted with a crane operated by Mr Ford, who failed to extend a stabilising outrigger from the vehicle designed to provide balance while the crane is in operation.

Because the crane was used without the extended outrigger, the lorry became unstable and tipped over, throwing Mr Sapec off. As he landed, some of the scaffold boards and tubes from the lorry fell on top of him.

Mr Sapec has been unable to work since the incident because of his injuries.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found Wayne Ford was responsible for the lorry, and was at fault for not using the crane and extending outrigger in the correct, safe manner.

Mr Ford, of Shingrig Road, Nelson, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 7(a) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. He was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 in costs.

After the hearing HSE Inspector David Kirkpatrick said:

The overturned lorry after the incident

"Mr Sapec sustained serious injuries in this incident, and could easily have been crushed and killed by the lorry when it toppled over.

"Operators of vehicle mounted cranes must ensure the safety of people they are working with by using the equipment in the proper manner.

"Had the extending outriggers been use for their intended purpose then the incident could have been avoided. It was wholly preventable on that basis."

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 7 (a) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employee while at work- (a) to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work."

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