Workplace Transport

7 January 2010 - A construction company from Gateshead has been ordered to pay £4,500 after one of its workers was seriously injured when a forklift truck telehandler he was operating overturned.

HSE prosecuted Meldrum Construction Services Ltd following the incident at its site, near Corbridge, in Northumberland, on 16 July 2008. The company pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £4,500 and ordered to pay costs of £2,342.20 and a victim surcharge of £15.

The court heard that Tom Lincoln, 39, of Dudley, Northumberland, was lifting roof trusses onto the roof of the development when the forklift truck telehandler that he was operating overturned. The machine fell onto its side throwing Mr Lincoln against the machine's window and controls. Mr Lincoln was not trained to use the machine and was not wearing a seat belt when the incident happened. He suffered multiple fractures to his right arm, leaving him with limited mobility in his shoulder. He still requires medical treatment and is unable to return to his job.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2010/coi-ne-00110.htm?ebul=cons/jan10&cr=14

15 January 2010 - A Wales construction company has been fined £80,000 after one of its employees had his head crushed at a site in Gloucestershire.

HSE prosecuted Macob Administration Limited, based in Bridgend, after 23-year-old. Lance Taylor from Thornbury, Bristol, was killed while working on a construction site in Abbeymead, Gloucester on 11 February 2005. Mr Taylor was driving a mini digger ? which he was not qualified to operate - and unintentionally hit a lever as he leaned out of the cab window. The digging arm of the vehicle was raised, crushing his head between the cab and the arm. He suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on site.

Macob Administration Ltd pleaded guilty to breaches under Regulation 9(1) and 28(a) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The company was fined £40,000 for each charge and ordered to pay costs of £29,798.14
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2010/coi-sw-655sww10.htm?ebul=cons/jan10&cr=15