HSE storage safety alert

8 May 2006

Following an incident in the West Midlands involving falling stock, the HSE have called upon metal stockholders and manufacturers to improve storage methods.

The incident involved Oldbury-based CMK (Treatments), and occurred in the stockyard.  A 3.6m high, 4m long stack of aluminium window frames weighing over 1 tonne fell onto Peter Finan, a forklift driver, resulting in Peter breaking his legs and feet and bruising his back.  West Bromwich magistrates fined CMK £10,000 and ordered them to pay £15,000 costs.

Gareth Langstone, the HSE Inspector said ‘People working with metal stock must decide on safe stacking heights and communicate this to operatives’

(Source Construction News 30/3/06)