Man Breaks Back - Another Killed by Vehicle

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• Man Breaks Back - Another Killed by Vehicle

19 May 2017 | Updated 01 January 1970

Eco NRG Solutions Ltd and its director Jon Luke Antoniou have been fined after a worker fell from height at a property in Cornwall.

Taunton Magistrates Court heard how Lewis Harding, 28, had been fitting solar panels on a fragile roof at Venn Farm on the 19 May 2015. He fell more than three metres through a fragile skylight and broke his back in three places.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found the company failed to take adequate precautions to prevent workers falling from height. There was no edge protection, under-roof netting or boarding provided on site. The company instead relied on an ineffective use of harnesses.

Eco NRG Solutions pleaded guilty to breaching the Work at Height Regulations and the Health and Safety at Work Act. The company was fined £115,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,879.60.

Director, Jon Luke Antoniou pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,957.40.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Sue Adsett said: “The worker is lucky to have not sustained more life threatening injuries from what we found to be a serious breach of the law. This case highlights the importance of directors being vigilant and acting on their obligations.”

Companies fined after worker killed by reversing vehicle

A construction company and its groundwork contractor have been fined after a worker was killed by a reversing vehicle.

Exeter Crown Court heard how an employee of Steve Hoskin Construction Limited (SHCL) was working for the groundwork contractor at a construction site in Dawlish, Devon when he was crushed by a reversing telescopic material handler.

John Small was crushed by the vehicle after it reversed while he was walking alongside it. Mr Small was pronounced dead after suffering multiple injuries.

An investigation by the HSE into the incident on 28 June 2013 found that Cavanna Homes, the principal contractor for this site, failed to ensure this area of the construction site was organised to enable pedestrians and vehicles to move safely. SHCL had not fully considered the risks to their employees at this part of the site.

Cavanna Homes pleaded guilty to breaching the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £20,000.

Steve Hoskin Construction Limited pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act and was also fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £20,000.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Caroline Penwill said: “There were no control measures in place to segregate vehicles and pedestrians in the area where the incident happened. Separating pedestrians and vehicles by introducing measures such as walkways with barriers, could have prevented John Small’s death”

Picture: Vehicles mixing with pedestrians on construction sites pose a major hazard.

Article written by Brian Shillibeer | Published 19 May 2017

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