A company has been sentenced after a 62-year-old worker fell 10 metres to the ground and died during the construction of a new university facility.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the fall and subsequently prosecuted the employer, with the firm fined £285,000, on Monday 16 September.
The two contractors had been in a scissor lift while installing cladding during the construction of a new engineering hall at the University of Birmingham, in January 2020.
The pair, from Lithuania, fell approximately 10 metres when their scissor lift was pushed over by a nearby crane.
This led to one of the contractors losing his life while the other sustained serious injuries to his spine and broken ribs, before spending seven weeks in a neck brace.
Balfour Beatty had been the principal contractor while the National Buried Infrastructure Facility was being built at the university.
The crane was being used to move hydraulic equipment that had been delivered by a lorry. The equipment was set to be installed at the facility.
The HSE investigation found the incident could have been prevented had the employer implemented better controls and put in place better communication between contractors. There were contractors on site moving the hydraulic units into place with the overhead travelling gantry crane as well as another team installing internal cladding. The company had a duty to ensure communication and cooperation between these contractors. There was also no lift supervisor present at the time of the incident.
The University was not prosecuted by HSE.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. The company was fined £285,000 and ordered to pay £21,768.88 in costs at Birmingham Crown Court on 16 September 2024.
HSE inspector said: “This was a tragic incident that led to the death of a worker with another being seriously injured and still experiencing difficulties today as a result.
“Lifting operations must be properly controlled – they must be planned, with plans adhered to.”
This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer and supported by a HSE paralegal.
At MBO Safety Services Ltd, we provide a CITB Health and Safety Awareness Course which is designed for recognising potential hazards and preventing accidents which includes an overview of health and safety in construction and provides practical advice on using lifting equipment safely.
With our main office in Oswestry, we carry out much of our training here, but we are also able to come to your premises, if this is more convenient. Please feel free to get in touch on 08000 842297 or email us at info@mbo.ltd to find out more, we would be happy to help.
Source: HSE