The Leading News & Information Service For The Facilities, Workplace & Built Environment Community

Cordant Cleaning Limited Employee Killed at Bus Depot

Cordant Cleaning Limited Employee Killed at Bus Depot
18 January 2024
 

Albin Trstena was working for Cordant Cleaning Limited when he was hit by a reversing bus being driven by a colleague.

Albin, 25 from Tottenham was working at the yard of Arriva’s Hemel Hempstead bus depot when the vehicle reversed out of the wash-down area. He sustained fatal injuries.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that national bus company Arriva failed to assess the risk of vehicle-pedestrian conflict properly. Both Arriva and Cordant Cleaning Limited failed to implement a suitable system of work to control this risk. HSE also discovered that there were not sufficient measures in place to protect pedestrians from vehicles being moved around the depot. There was also a failure to ensure that walkways within the yard's perimeter were being used.

Cordant Cleaning Limited, part of Cordant Services Group was subsequently known as C.L.C Realisations Limited, which is now in administration. Cordant Services Group was acquired by Bidvest Noonan in 2021.

C.L.C Realisations Limited of Wellington Street, Leeds (in administration) offered no plea but was found guilty of breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and fined a nominal £1,000. Arriva Kent Thameside Limited of Doxford International Business Park, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £32,000 and ordered to pay costs of £22,392.

In a statement read at St Albans Magistrates’ Court, Albin’s sister Albina said: “When we received the news Albin had died, we were left devastated and our whole world came crashing down around us. His presence at home was so alive. Albin would always do lots for the family, but not just for the family, he gave of himself and would always help other people where he could.

“He was a brother and son to be proud of.”

HSE inspector Roxanne Barker added: “This tragic incident led to the avoidable death of a much loved young man. There was a failure to undertake safety measures to segregate vehicles and pedestrians.

“They also failed to properly consider who was responsible for determining and implementing suitable measures to ensure safe working practices when contracting out some of the activities performed within a shared workplace.”

Picture: a close-up photograph of an Arriva bus. Image Credit: Arriva

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 18 January 2024

Share


Related Tags


Related Articles

HSE Releases Latest Workplace Fatality Figures

Health and Safety Executive figures show that 135 workers died in work-related incidents between April 2022 to March 2023, an increase of just over nine per cent from...

 Read Full Article
Security Firm Serco Fined £2.25m After Death of Custody Officer

Serco has been fined £2.25 million after several health and safety failures lead to the death of Custody Officer Lorraine Barwell. Lorraine was assaulted at...

 Read Full Article
HSE Publishes Annual Workplace Fatality Figures

HSE reports show that 123 workers died in work-related accidents from April 2021 to March 2022. 2,544 deaths in 2020 were due to Mesothelioma, cancer that can be...

 Read Full Article
Over 60s Account for 30% of Workplace Fatalities 

Annual workplace fatality figures from the Health and Safety Executive highlight the risks to older workers, with around 30 per cent of fatal injuries in...

 Read Full Article
Explosion - Four Dead - Valero Pays £6 Million

Valero Energy UK will have to pay at least £6 million after four people died in an oil explosion. B&A Contracts have also been fined after the incident at...

 Read Full Article
Federation of Window Cleaners Warns About Electrocution Risk

The Federation of Window Cleaners has set up a meeting to discuss improved safety measures when window cleaners use water-fed poles near overhead power...

 Read Full Article
HSE and NEBOSH Develop One-Day Course in Managing Stress at Work

Coinciding with Stress Awareness Month, HSE and NEBOSH have developed a new one-day qualification in managing and controlling stress at work. Health and Safety...

 Read Full Article
Building Control Officer Competence Deadline Extended by HSE

Building control professionals in England have received a 13-week extension to allow them more time to complete competence assessments. The Director of Building Safety...

 Read Full Article
HSE Expands Home Working Guidance

The Health and Safety Executive has updated its home working guidance to include straightforward actions to manage home workers’ health and safety. The HSE...

 Read Full Article
Facilities Managers Sacked After Hospital Elevator Death in Nigeria

Facilities managers at a hospital in Nigeria have been “sacked and blacklisted" after a house officer died in an elevator crash. Dr Vwaere Diaso,...

 Read Full Article