Three construction companies were fined on the 12 March 2015, after a worker was crushed by a falling section of conveyor at a plant in Sleaford after it overturned during installation.
The worker suffered multiple injuries including four cracked vertebrae, broken ribs, a punctured lung and broken ankle. He has not returned to work since.
Shaw Group UK Ltd, of Stores Road, Derby pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999; Regulation 8(1)(c) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998; and Regulation 13(2) of the Construction (Design and Management ) Regulations 2007.
Burmeister and Wain Scandinavian Contractor pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Burmeister and Wain Energy, was fined after admitting a breach of Regulation 13(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Martin Giles said:
“The failure to ensure work was carried out safely on the slope was symptomatic of more general failures which were the responsibility of principal contractor BWSC in setting the rules, procedures and checks needed to manage a large site. These failures put all the workers on site at risk.
“Shaw Group UK Ltd’s risk assessment was flawed, and its management and monitoring of the task was not sufficient to identify potential problems and stop the work …The actual method of work followed by its employees was unsafe…”
Although people may not realise or understand, an employer has a duty of care to its employees’ health and safety, and has a duty to ensure the safety of its employees.
An employer must provide safe premises, a safe place to work, safe plant, material and equipment and a safe system of working.
If you are in an accident at work, it may not be at the fault of your employer, however if it could have been avoided then you may have a claim for personal injury.
Contact our team today at Ringrose Law where we can advise you if you have a claim. Where an employer fails to comply with their duty to keep their employees safe, we are very proud to be able to help workers get the compensation they deserve.