Worker run over by reversing truck suffers life-threatening injuries
February 15, 2010
Carillion JM Ltd has been prosecuted by the Health & Safety Executive following an incident at the Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale on 11 November 2008.
Manchester Crown Court heard how Michael Gresty was helping to build a new track around a large pond when he was run over by a Ford Transit truck. Mr Gresty suffered severe injuries including losing his left kidney, breaking seven ribs, his left shoulder and right foot. He also suffered a fractured spine, a dislocated right hip and a pin through his right knee. The injuries have left Mr Gresty in constant pain in his back and ribs more than a year later.
During the court hearing, it was discovered that no one was responsible for guiding the truck, which was regularly required to reverse up to 400 metres to drop off construction materials for the project. The court also heard that a pedestrian walkway to separate vehicles from pedestrians had not been marked on the track.
On 12 February 2010, the company pleaded guilty to three health and safety offences at Manchester Crown Court. Carillion JM Ltd, which is part of the multinational Carillion plc group, was fined £185,000 and ordered to pay £9,821 towards the cost of the prosecution.
Carillion pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of workers. It also admitted breaching Regulation 3(1)(b) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 by failing to carry out a suitable risk assessment.
HSE Inspector Neil Martin said: "Michael Gresty is lucky to be alive following this very serious incident and he will never fully recover. His injuries could easily have been prevented if Carillion had followed basic health and safety procedures.
"It is not acceptable that a construction company, which employs 50,000 people around the world, did not carry out the right risk assessment or put a system in place for preventing collisions.
"It would have been simple to mark out a basic pedestrian walkway, using cones and tape, and have someone responsible for guiding reversing vehicles. If Carillion had done this, Michael Gresty would not have suffered agonising injuries.
Inspector Martin concluded: "I hope this case demonstrates to all companies how important it is to separate pedestrians from vehicles on construction sites."
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Manchester Crown Court heard how Michael Gresty was helping to build a new track around a large pond when he was run over by a Ford Transit truck. Mr Gresty suffered severe injuries including losing his left kidney, breaking seven ribs, his left shoulder and right foot. He also suffered a fractured spine, a dislocated right hip and a pin through his right knee. The injuries have left Mr Gresty in constant pain in his back and ribs more than a year later.
During the court hearing, it was discovered that no one was responsible for guiding the truck, which was regularly required to reverse up to 400 metres to drop off construction materials for the project. The court also heard that a pedestrian walkway to separate vehicles from pedestrians had not been marked on the track.
On 12 February 2010, the company pleaded guilty to three health and safety offences at Manchester Crown Court. Carillion JM Ltd, which is part of the multinational Carillion plc group, was fined £185,000 and ordered to pay £9,821 towards the cost of the prosecution.
Carillion pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of workers. It also admitted breaching Regulation 3(1)(b) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 by failing to carry out a suitable risk assessment.
HSE Inspector Neil Martin said: "Michael Gresty is lucky to be alive following this very serious incident and he will never fully recover. His injuries could easily have been prevented if Carillion had followed basic health and safety procedures.
"It is not acceptable that a construction company, which employs 50,000 people around the world, did not carry out the right risk assessment or put a system in place for preventing collisions.
"It would have been simple to mark out a basic pedestrian walkway, using cones and tape, and have someone responsible for guiding reversing vehicles. If Carillion had done this, Michael Gresty would not have suffered agonising injuries.
Inspector Martin concluded: "I hope this case demonstrates to all companies how important it is to separate pedestrians from vehicles on construction sites."
Find out more about Driving Safely
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