Horror story of the Month! 15/04/08
JCB deaths prompt HSE Risk Assessment warning to employers.
Apr 15, 2008
Every month we will bring you a story hot off the Health and Safety press about what can happen when health and safety is an after thought, rather than a top of the agenda issue for consideration. Read them and learn from them!
The HSE is warning employers to ensure that risk assessments are suitable and sufficient for workplace undertakings following the unnecessary deaths of two employees within the JCB group of companies.
Proceedings were brought against JCB Earthmovers Ltd and JC Bamford Excavators Ltd by the HSE before Stafford Crown Court on 14th March 2008, following 2 seperate incidents which led to employee fatalities.
JCB Earthmovers Ltd was fined £200 000 and ordered to pay costs of £31 366 for breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, when a 33 year old welder died at its manufacturing plant in Cheadle, Staffordshire on 16th November 2005.
The employee was testing the fuel tank of an earthmoving machine for leaks using a high pressure airline instead of using low pressure, causing the inspection plate to blow off, fatally injuring him. It was revealed that not only were the airlines similar and the connectors identical, but the employee had inadequate training for the job.
JC Bamford Excavators Ltd was fined £266 000 and ordered to pay costs of £31 701 for breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 following the death of a 43 year old employee on the company's site at Rocester, Staffordshire on 11th September 2006.
The employee was operating the controls for the boom of an excavating machine whilst standing outside of the cab and leaning in through the window. (HSE investigation revealed that this was common practice in this work environment.) The hydraulic system failed, the control lever stopped working properly causing the boom to carry on moving, trapping the employee and causing fatal head injuries.
HSE inspector Lynne Boulton described both deaths as 'not only regrettable but also entirely preventable.' She went on to say 'All employers must learn from these tragedies that, whatever the task, it is crucial to undertake a suitable risk assessment that deals with the significant risks of that task.'
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