Unsecure working platform was not checked before use
A construction firm has admitted failing to carry out critical safety checks during the building of a new factory, where a temporary structure collapsed, injuring two workers.
Chalcroft Ltd was the principal contractor during the construction of the new building at GlaxoSmithKline’s premises in Coleford, Forest of Dean. On 12 August 2009, Spencer Gosney and Matthew Brewer were building a core using a large piece of climbing formwork, a frame used to set concrete.
One of the two anchor points holding the formwork platform in place came out of alignment when the concrete was poured. As a replacement, the men used an unsuitable bolt to attach the formwork to the anchor point. The bolt was unable to hold the weight of the concrete and broke, tipping the platform and causing the men to fall eight metres to the ground.
Mr Gosney suffered cuts to his head and severe bruising to his internal organs and leg. He was unable to return to work for nearly a year owing to his injuries. Mr Brewer fractured his hip and pelvis and has still not returned to work. The HSE visited the site on the day of the incident and issued a Prohibition Notice, which required work to stop until a more thorough method statement was created. HSE inspector Sue Adsett explained that the incident could have been avoided if the company had put in place temporary work procedures. This requires the appointment of a project coordinator to ensure that safety critical checks were carried out.
Inspector Adsett said: “'Work at height is inherently dangerous and, if not managed properly, can result in serious injury, or even death. It’s vital all work is properly planned and checked in order to prevent or reduce the impact of falls. Safety-critical parts of temporary work equipment should be checked before use.
“This incident occurred because neither of these things was done. Crucially, Chalcroft Ltd had no formal procedures in place to make safety-critical checks. These checks would have revealed that the working platform was not secure, and this failing has caused serious injury to two men.”
Inspector Adsett told SHP that J&J Harkin Ltd was sub-contracted to manage the building of the core. The firm has admitted breaching reg.13 and reg.8 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007, and will be sentenced on 5 March at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court.
Chalcroft appeared at the same court on 6 February and pleaded guilty to breaching reg.22(1)(a) of the CDM Regulations 2007, for failing to properly plan the work. It was fined £14,000 and ordered to pay £23,236 in costs.
In mitigation, the company said the workers were experienced and it put a lot of trust in them to do the work safely. The method of work was changed just before the project started and the company failed to implement temporary work procedures. The work was subsequently completed safely after the company put the necessary measures in place.
In 2007, the firm was fined £200,000 for an incident in Nottingham where one of its workers suffered serious injuries when in a fall from a mezzanine floor, which had unsuitable edge protection
Chalcroft Ltd was the principal contractor during the construction of the new building at GlaxoSmithKline’s premises in Coleford, Forest of Dean. On 12 August 2009, Spencer Gosney and Matthew Brewer were building a core using a large piece of climbing formwork, a frame used to set concrete.
One of the two anchor points holding the formwork platform in place came out of alignment when the concrete was poured. As a replacement, the men used an unsuitable bolt to attach the formwork to the anchor point. The bolt was unable to hold the weight of the concrete and broke, tipping the platform and causing the men to fall eight metres to the ground.
Mr Gosney suffered cuts to his head and severe bruising to his internal organs and leg. He was unable to return to work for nearly a year owing to his injuries. Mr Brewer fractured his hip and pelvis and has still not returned to work. The HSE visited the site on the day of the incident and issued a Prohibition Notice, which required work to stop until a more thorough method statement was created. HSE inspector Sue Adsett explained that the incident could have been avoided if the company had put in place temporary work procedures. This requires the appointment of a project coordinator to ensure that safety critical checks were carried out.
Inspector Adsett said: “'Work at height is inherently dangerous and, if not managed properly, can result in serious injury, or even death. It’s vital all work is properly planned and checked in order to prevent or reduce the impact of falls. Safety-critical parts of temporary work equipment should be checked before use.
“This incident occurred because neither of these things was done. Crucially, Chalcroft Ltd had no formal procedures in place to make safety-critical checks. These checks would have revealed that the working platform was not secure, and this failing has caused serious injury to two men.”
Inspector Adsett told SHP that J&J Harkin Ltd was sub-contracted to manage the building of the core. The firm has admitted breaching reg.13 and reg.8 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007, and will be sentenced on 5 March at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court.
Chalcroft appeared at the same court on 6 February and pleaded guilty to breaching reg.22(1)(a) of the CDM Regulations 2007, for failing to properly plan the work. It was fined £14,000 and ordered to pay £23,236 in costs.
In mitigation, the company said the workers were experienced and it put a lot of trust in them to do the work safely. The method of work was changed just before the project started and the company failed to implement temporary work procedures. The work was subsequently completed safely after the company put the necessary measures in place.
In 2007, the firm was fined £200,000 for an incident in Nottingham where one of its workers suffered serious injuries when in a fall from a mezzanine floor, which had unsuitable edge protection
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