Thursday, February 05, 2009
Tie the bitch down.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned employers that they must properly restrain loads on vehicles - whatever the distance travelled. The warning follows the prosecution of Coastal Container Line Limited, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, after a driver died when his load of sheet steel shifted and punched through the back of his cab. Coastal Container Line Limited has been fined £150,000 and ordered to pay costs of £26,732 at Liverpool Crown Court. The company had earlier pleaded guilty to charges under Section 2(1) and Section 3 of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 at South Sefton Magistrates Court and had been committed for sentence at the Crown Court.
The prosecution follows an incident on 14 September 2006 at Seaforth docks in Bootle, when 37-year-old Lawrence Allen was driving an HGV with approximately 25 tonnes of sheet steel loaded on a trailer. The steel was being moved between Gladstone Steel Terminal and the quayside, using roads within the dock complex - a distance of around one and a half miles. As he slowed his vehicle on approach to a roundabout the load shifted and the sheet steel slid forwards and punched through the back of the cab, pinning him between his seat and the steering wheel. Mr Allen suffered crush injuries and died at the scene.
Kevin Jones, the HSE inspector who investigated the accident, said:
"The investigation identified a number of failings including a lack of planning and inadequate training for drivers. A key factor was the practice not to secure the steel but to rely upon the weight of the steel and friction to hold the load in place while the vehicle was moving.
"The transport of steel between the steel terminal and the quayside had been taking place in this manner for at least eight months, putting not only the drivers at risk but also members of the public using the roads within the dock complex.
"Employers must ensure that there is suitable and sufficient planning for transport operations, and make sure that loads are adequately restrained. Friction alone should never be relied upon to secure a load."
...Well, well, this story is truly shocking. This company has been acting like cowboys for at least eight months which ultimately resulted in the death of Lawrence Allen. This was an avoidable accident and should never have happened. Common sense will tell everyone that you secure any load on a lorry regardless of weight or the distance to be travelled. Trouble is because of this death the case has come to court and the public knows about it. What other operators are working without due regard for health and safety in their quest for greater operating profit? Many companies put profit before safety by cutting corners to make their bottom line look more attractive. Never believe company claims about safety coming first, profit always comes first and any employees speaking out will be replaced, even dead ones.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned employers that they must properly restrain loads on vehicles - whatever the distance travelled. The warning follows the prosecution of Coastal Container Line Limited, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, after a driver died when his load of sheet steel shifted and punched through the back of his cab. Coastal Container Line Limited has been fined £150,000 and ordered to pay costs of £26,732 at Liverpool Crown Court. The company had earlier pleaded guilty to charges under Section 2(1) and Section 3 of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 at South Sefton Magistrates Court and had been committed for sentence at the Crown Court.
The prosecution follows an incident on 14 September 2006 at Seaforth docks in Bootle, when 37-year-old Lawrence Allen was driving an HGV with approximately 25 tonnes of sheet steel loaded on a trailer. The steel was being moved between Gladstone Steel Terminal and the quayside, using roads within the dock complex - a distance of around one and a half miles. As he slowed his vehicle on approach to a roundabout the load shifted and the sheet steel slid forwards and punched through the back of the cab, pinning him between his seat and the steering wheel. Mr Allen suffered crush injuries and died at the scene.
Kevin Jones, the HSE inspector who investigated the accident, said:
"The investigation identified a number of failings including a lack of planning and inadequate training for drivers. A key factor was the practice not to secure the steel but to rely upon the weight of the steel and friction to hold the load in place while the vehicle was moving.
"The transport of steel between the steel terminal and the quayside had been taking place in this manner for at least eight months, putting not only the drivers at risk but also members of the public using the roads within the dock complex.
"Employers must ensure that there is suitable and sufficient planning for transport operations, and make sure that loads are adequately restrained. Friction alone should never be relied upon to secure a load."
...Well, well, this story is truly shocking. This company has been acting like cowboys for at least eight months which ultimately resulted in the death of Lawrence Allen. This was an avoidable accident and should never have happened. Common sense will tell everyone that you secure any load on a lorry regardless of weight or the distance to be travelled. Trouble is because of this death the case has come to court and the public knows about it. What other operators are working without due regard for health and safety in their quest for greater operating profit? Many companies put profit before safety by cutting corners to make their bottom line look more attractive. Never believe company claims about safety coming first, profit always comes first and any employees speaking out will be replaced, even dead ones.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]