Worker crushed by more than two tonnes of metal
March 9, 2010
Manchester Crown Court prosecuted S Cartwright and Sons (Coachbuilders) Ltd on 5 March 2010 following a incident near Altrincham in 2008 when a worker was crushed by more than two tonnes of metal.
The incident occurred on 13 March 2008 the worker, David Jones was helping to move a stack of 6.7 metre-long strips onto a trailer. The Court heard how the stack and lifting beam which weighed a total of 2.2 tonnes fell onto Mr Jones from the forks of a forklift truck. The incident left Mr Jones with severe injuries including a broken back in four places, 12 broken ribs and a shoulder blade, punctured a lung, bruised his heart and suffered stomach injuries.
S Cartwright and Sons (Coachbuilders) Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of its employees. The company were fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £18,315 costs.
HSE Inspector Richard Clarke said: "One of S Cartwright and Sons workers was seriously injured because the company did not do enough to protect the safety of its employees. Mr Jones is still in constant pain and the incident could have killed him. The company regularly requires its employees to unload long stacks of metal strips, which are used to build the trailers for lorries. But, at the time of the incident, it did not provide suitable training or written guidance for its staff to handle long loads.
Inspector Clarke concluded: "Manufacturing companies can be dangerous places to work if the risks are not properly managed. ItÃs vital that good health and safety measures are put in place to prevent workers from being injured."
Find out more about Risk Assessment
The incident occurred on 13 March 2008 the worker, David Jones was helping to move a stack of 6.7 metre-long strips onto a trailer. The Court heard how the stack and lifting beam which weighed a total of 2.2 tonnes fell onto Mr Jones from the forks of a forklift truck. The incident left Mr Jones with severe injuries including a broken back in four places, 12 broken ribs and a shoulder blade, punctured a lung, bruised his heart and suffered stomach injuries.
S Cartwright and Sons (Coachbuilders) Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of its employees. The company were fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £18,315 costs.
HSE Inspector Richard Clarke said: "One of S Cartwright and Sons workers was seriously injured because the company did not do enough to protect the safety of its employees. Mr Jones is still in constant pain and the incident could have killed him. The company regularly requires its employees to unload long stacks of metal strips, which are used to build the trailers for lorries. But, at the time of the incident, it did not provide suitable training or written guidance for its staff to handle long loads.
Inspector Clarke concluded: "Manufacturing companies can be dangerous places to work if the risks are not properly managed. ItÃs vital that good health and safety measures are put in place to prevent workers from being injured."
Find out more about Risk Assessment
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