Workplace Safety Still Major Concern For UK Companies

Recently, after accepting the guilt of breaching section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the largest port operator in the UK, Associated British Ports of Holborn, was fined by the Ipswich Magistrate’s Court a sum of £266,000, and ordered to pay costs of nearly £75,000.

The Court’s verdict was for a fatal accident, in which a dockworker was struck by a reversing vehicle.

Citing this incident, the HSE issued a warning to the port companies stating that they must assess the risks involved in the interaction between vehicles and pedestrians. Companies must adhere to the rules and ensure that they have trained banksmen and drivers who have a thorough knowledge of the possible risks.

On 30th March 2007, 60-year-old Brian Vince, a cargo handler from Ipswich, was servicing a roll-on roll-off ferry at the Port of Ipswich, when the accident happened. Vince was co-ordinating vehicles on and off the ferry, and was standing on the bridge between the ferry and the quayside, when a reversing trailer struck him and killed him on the spot.

The company was prosecuted by the Court as it had failed to provide and implement safety norms for the roll-on roll-off operation. In addition, it did not ensure that its employees had adequate knowledge of the risks involved.

HSE Inspector Kaitav Patel said that it was a tragic accident and that other port companies engaged in workplace transport should learn a lesson from it. The port company knew the danger involved in the operation but did nothing to prevent it. Mr Patel urged employers from all industries to manage the movement of vehicles and pedestrians at workplace in such a way as to avoid such accidents in future.

Written by Giles Kendrick
giles.kendrick@googlemail.com
http://iosh.workplacelaw.net/