Employee suffers injuries in near fatal crush

An employee of Northumbrian Water was crushed between a the loading bucket and cab of a construction vehichle, leading to him spending three days in intensive care.

The incident occurred on 12 March 2008 when Robert Ayers, 38, was driving a Bobcat skid steer loader at a water treatment works site. Mr Ayers got out of the vehicle and kept the engine running. When he got back into the driver s cab, he slipped and pressed the control to raise the vehicle s bucket. Mr Ayers was trapped between the cab and the bucket and suffered crush injuries and permanent scarring.

Lowestoft Magistrates Court heard how Mr Ayers and other employees at the company and not received adequate training with regards to using the vehicle. The court also heard how the device that stops the bucket being raised unless someone is sat in the driving seat of the vehicle was found to be faulty.

Northumbrian Water pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was fined £17,000 and ordered to pay costs of £17,045.40.

Investigating HSE Inspector, Richard Hines said: "Mr Ayers is very lucky to have escaped with his life from this incident because similar incidents with other companies have resulted in employees being crushed to death. It was a simple example of faulty equipment and insufficient training creating a potential disaster.

Inspector Hines concluded: "This should serve as a serious warning to all companies that they must ensure the health and safety of their work force - it is their responsibility. HSE will not hesitate to take action against those who fall short of their duty - and the legal requirements - in such a way."

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