HSE investigation found that the lifting operation could have been successful if the whole process had been planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe mannerfrom the outset. The 1.4 tonne beam fell on Colin Dickson, 38, of Motherwell, Lanarkshire, when the temporary suspension points failed.
Mr Dickson’s employers J H Carruthers Ltd and one of its supervisors, John Hamilton, were prosecuted at Reading Crown Court by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an investigation into how the lifting operation failed at the Lakeside Energy from Waste installation in Colnbrook, Slough. The firm was fined £180,000 and ordered to pay costs of £74,000; Hamilton, of Orchard Gardens, Strathaven, Lanarkshire, was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay costs of £400 after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.
Macbrac Business Safety can train employees in Health and Safety and Risk Assessment, including the NEBOSH General Certificate and IOSH “Managing Safely”. Courses are available in Telford, Shropshire and in Central London. Contact us for more details.
Legal Note:
- Regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 states
“Every employer shall ensure that every lifting operation involving lifting equipment is—
(a) properly planned by a competent person;
(b) appropriately supervised; and
(c) carried out in a safe manner.
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