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Arcoservices > MEWP > WORK RESTRAINT SAFES WORKER EJECTED FROM MEWP

WORK RESTRAINT SAFES WORKER EJECTED FROM MEWP

Firms failed to separate crane and elevated mobile work platform

Deans Construction Limited and Universal Coatings and Services Limited have been sentenced after workman was ejected from the basket of a cherry picker, resulting in serious chest injuries, in May 2016.

Teesside Magistrates’ Court heard that the injured person was carrying out roofing repairs inside a large industrial building at Port Clarence Offshore Base in Middlesbrough when the basket was struck by a moving crane.

The operator was wearing a work restraint lanyard and harness which saved him from falling 12m and suffering more far more serious injuries.

Risk not identified

HSE investigators found that the risk of impact between the cherry picker and the operational crane had not been identified by either defendant and suitable measures were not taken to prevent operation of the crane when the roof repairs were being carried out inside the building.

 

  • Deans Construction Limited – of Hartlepool pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £1,000.00 and ordered to pay costs of £621.00.
  • Universal Coatings and Services Limited – of Middlesbrough pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £18,000.00 and ordered to pay costs of £823.00.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Michael Kingston said:

“This incident could so easily have been avoided by the roofing contractor and the client working together to ensure that the risks were properly identified, and that suitable control measures were put in place.

The risk of impact between the operational crane and the cherry picker should have been identified, and the crane should have been isolated from its power supply to prevent it being used during the roof repairs.

Had these simple measures been taken, life changing injuries to the worker could have been avoided.”

Importance of Equipment

Incidents like these show people how important safety equipment such as lanyards and harnesses can be, as they help save workers lives. 
Click here to see our safety equipment