A concrete production company has been fined £400,000 after a welder lost four fingers during an unsafe lifting operation.
What happened?
On the 27th September 2016 at Hanson Quarry Products Europe Limited, a forklift was being used to lift a large metal gate that was attached to the truck by a chain and O-ring slotted onto the forklift’s truck tines. As the gate was being lifted, it slipped off the tines and fell to the floor. As it fell, it sliced off four of a welder’s fingers.
What did the HSE find?
An investigation by the HSE discovered that Hanson Quarry Products Europe Limited failed to properly plan and supervise the lifting operation and ensure that it was carried out safely.
What was the outcome in court?
At Southwark Crown Court, Hanson Quarry Products Europe Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 and has been fined £400,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £11,376.25.
HSE Inspector, Jane Wolfenden, stated that “the use of forklift truck, chain and O-ring was unsafe, putting workers at unnecessary risk. This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply having a competent person plan, a safe lifting operation and providing adequate supervision to ensure the lifting operation was carried out safely”.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards”.
What is lifting equipment?
Lifting equipment is for lifting and lowering loads, for example, telehandlers and forklifts, overhead cranes, vehicle tail lifts and cranes fitted to vehicles. Lifting accessories include fibre or rope swings, chains and hooks.
Where this equipment is used at work, it will need to be maintained and, in some cases, may be subject to inspection under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).
What you should do
If your business or organisation undertakes lifting operations, you must manage and control the risks to avoid any injury or damage.
Lifting operations that involve lifting equipment must be planned properly by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out safely.
Further advice
Information from the HSE about how to prevent accidents during lifting operations can be found here.