Construction Company Fined for Trench Collapse Accident
A construction company, Vickers Construction Limited of Yarm Road, Eaglescliffe has been pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The accident took place in late November, 2008 where an excavator was digging trenches for laying drainage pipes. A construction worker, John Taylor, was engaged in laying drainage pipes in a trench on a slope, when the walls of the trench gave way. He was trapped in the trench, immobilised from the waist down for over two hours, till he could be rescued. He sustained bruises on his legs.
An investigation by the HSE disclosed that the excavator’s driver was not properly trained in its use.
The case came up before the Darlington Magistrates’ Court and the firm was fined £5,000 with costs of £3,178.10 after it pleaded guilty to the offence.
HSE Inspector Dr. Dave Shallow pointed out that one fairly common reason for injuries as well as deaths in the construction industry is collapsing of trenches. He said that this incident as well as several similar ones were easily avoidable with simple precautionary measures.
He added that the driver of excavator should have received proper training and that construction companies should provide shoring or trench boxes, as per industry advice. Companies should understand the risks inherent in the nature of their work and make sure that the safety measures are in place before the excavation work starts.
It is also to be noted that the very first trial under the new Corporate Manslaughter Act involving death of an employee in the year 2008, which is under adjournment as of now, also involved a collapsed trench.
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