Safety Signs News

Firm fined after worker is injured in trench collapse

11th March 2010 | Warning Signs

An excavation worker suffered bruising to his legs after a trench for drainage pipes collapsed on him, underlining the importance of using warning signs.

The man was working on a sloping bank at a site in Allanbrae when the walls collapsed, trapping him from the waist down for more than two hours.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that the driver of the accompanying excavator had not received sufficient training from Vickers Construction.

As a result, the Eaglescliffe-based firm was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £3,178.10 in costs for breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

"The employee using the excavator should have been properly trained and industry guidance, which recommends providing shoring or trench boxes, should have been followed," said HSE inspector Dr Dave Shallow.

"Companies need to recognise the dangers of excavations and ensure safe systems of work are in place before workers enter excavations."

The latest incident comes after contractor Anthony Hill was fined £3,500 after one of its excavation workers was buried alive, sustaining a broken leg before being rescued.

Posted by Jason NichollsADNFCR-2754-ID-19663542-ADNFCR

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