Safety Signs News

Warning signs 'should always be used'

1st December 2009 | Warning Signs

One Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector has advised companies to use warning signs in order to prevent accidents, following an incident in Southampton which resulted in the death of a 24-year-old man.

Barry Collins was visiting metal recyclers James Huntley & Sons at the company's site in August 2007, while a crane claw was being used to move things around the area.

While Mr Collins was sat in the van, the crane operator misunderstood instructions from his brother Joey Collins and picked up the vehicle with the claw, inflicting fatal injuries on the driver.

The company was fined more than £80,000 for breaching section Health and Safety law and HSE inspector Roger Upfold said the event was a "truly tragic miscommunication" which could have been prevented.

"Recycling sites are dangerous work environments. As such, warning notices, communication of site rules, and the use of high visibility clothing, should all be used to set clear expectations for the behaviour of visitors," he said.

The prosecution follows a recent event when EAT Limited was fined over £3,000 after an employee fell 4.6 meters at the company's warehouse in Wembley, which illustrates the importance of health and safety signs. ADNFCR-2754-ID-19487888-ADNFCR