Firm fined after worker trapped in trench
A building firm has been fined £5,000 after a worker was trapped for two hours in a trench he was working in.
The court heard how on 25 November 2008, an excavator was being used to dig a trench for drainage pipes on a sloping bank at a site, near Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.
The Construction worker was laying pipes when the trench wall collapsed causing him work accident injuries. He was trapped from the waist down for more than two hours and also suffered bruising to his legs.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) showed that the driver of the excavator had not received suitable training in its use.
After the case, HSE Inspector Dr Dave Shallow, said: "Trench collapses are a well-known cause of serious injuries and deaths in the construction industry and this incident could have easily been avoided.
"The employee using the excavator should have been properly trained and industry guidance, which recommends providing shoring or trench boxes, should have been followed.
"Companies need to recognise the dangers of excavations and ensure safe systems of work are in place before workers enter excavations," he said.
It is unknown if the personal injury victim will file a compensation claim.Updated on 10/03/2010