Construction worker 'seriously injured skull'
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05 February 2010
A construction worker seriously injured his skull, back and legs after his machine toppled over while he was doing his job.
The man worked for Shepherd Construction of York and was driving a cherry picker over a concealed manhole cover in Nottingham when the health and safety failure occurred.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the cover gave way as the machine drove over it.
This led to the cherry picker toppling over and crashing to the ground - which had been "bustling" with pedestrians and vehicles moments earlier.
HSE inspector Martin Giles said: "It could so easily have led to people being killed and has left a worker with serious injuries."
If measures had been in place whereby the company had a record of all manholes and service covers, the accident could have been prevented.
Mr Giles went on to add that operators of such machinery must be warned of these dangers.
Shepherd Construction was fined £20,000 and pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Cherry pickers are also known as elevated work platforms.
For further information on any of our Health and Safety services or to find out how we can assist you please call us on 08456 122 144.
Posted by James Hill
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