Building firm fined after worker trapped in trench
March 9, 2010
A construction worker was working in a trench when the wall collapsed and left him injured.
Darlington Magistrates Court heard how an excavator was being used at the site in Allanbrae to dig a trench for drainage on a sloping bank. John Taylor, was laying pipes when the trench wall collapsed and trapped him from the waist down for more than two hours. The incident left Mr Taylor with bruising to his legs.
The following Health and Safety Executive investigation found that the excavator driver had not received suitable training for use of the excavator.
On 8 March 2010, Vickers Construction Limited of Eaglescliffe, pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,178.10.
After the case, HSE Inspector Dr Dave Shallow, said: "Trench collapses are a well-known cause of serious injuries and deaths in the construction industry and this incident could have easily been avoided. The employee using the excavator should have been properly trained and industry guidance, which recommends providing shoring or trench boxes, should have been followed.
Inspector Shallow concluded: "Companies need to recognise the dangers of excavations and ensure safe systems of work are in place before workers enter excavations."
Find out more about Construction Safety
Darlington Magistrates Court heard how an excavator was being used at the site in Allanbrae to dig a trench for drainage on a sloping bank. John Taylor, was laying pipes when the trench wall collapsed and trapped him from the waist down for more than two hours. The incident left Mr Taylor with bruising to his legs.
The following Health and Safety Executive investigation found that the excavator driver had not received suitable training for use of the excavator.
On 8 March 2010, Vickers Construction Limited of Eaglescliffe, pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,178.10.
After the case, HSE Inspector Dr Dave Shallow, said: "Trench collapses are a well-known cause of serious injuries and deaths in the construction industry and this incident could have easily been avoided. The employee using the excavator should have been properly trained and industry guidance, which recommends providing shoring or trench boxes, should have been followed.
Inspector Shallow concluded: "Companies need to recognise the dangers of excavations and ensure safe systems of work are in place before workers enter excavations."
Find out more about Construction Safety
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