London construction firm held responsible for work accident
A London construction company has recently been ruled responsible by the Health and Safety Executive for an accident in which one man was killed, and two more injured in an accident involving a forklift truck.
The accident took place on the 1st of January, 2008, on a building site in Oxfordshire’s Banbury.
During the course of a routine check, the forklift truck overturned, crushing a car in which the workers were sitting. One of these men died, while another suffered spinal fractures and a brain injury. The third incurred injuries to his neck and to his spine, along with a broken ankle and ribs as well as a breastbone fracture.
A HSE Inspector has since stated, “This was a horrific accident that was totally avoidable. Construction sites have inherent risks, and even rough-terrain lift trucks have strict operational limits that need to be observed. With competent operation and suitable maintenance, tragedies like this should not happen.
“Lives have been destroyed here and today's sentencing must serve to remind all employers and employees of their duties and responsibilities while using this type of machinery.”
The construction firm has since pleaded guilty to a breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, for which it has been ordered to pay £7,500 with costs of £25,000. It is likely that work accident compensation claims will follow.