Page 1745 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive

Safety, Health, Environmental & Quality Bulletin No 663

14 March 2019

Site Traffic Fatality

A large construction company has recently been fined £600,000 after a worker, Ian Walker (58) was
fatally injured when he was struck by an excavator.

The company was acting as Principle Contractor on a bridge construction project in Aberdeen, a 14
tonne wheeled excavator had just been refuelled and was manoeuvring when it struck Mr Walker.

It was reported that a lack of adequate lighting made it difficult for the excavator driver to see him. Mr
Walker was knocked to the ground and then caught between the excavator and the mobile fuel tank. He
died at the scene.

The company had identified the refuelling process as high risk, and had risk assessments, safe systems
of work, and task briefing documents to control this risk, but they were not fully implemented on site.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
and was fined £600,000.

It is important that safety controls are always implemented on site, particularly procedure to control
vehicle movement on and around site. We regularly work on open sites with members of the public
driving around the work area, as well as manoeuvring MEWPs, delivery vehicles etc on site. Always
ensure barriers are erected and your vehicle is used as a barrier in the line of fire. Ensure barriers are
visible to traffic, Heras fencing should have a reflective strip. If visibility is poor stop and contact your
line manager.

When vehicles are manoeuvring on site, guide them with a banksman, ensure the banksman is visible to
the driver at all times and nobody else is in the area.

See more details on this incident at http://press.hse.gov.uk/2019/02/25/company-fined-after-death-of-a-
worker-during-a-major-construction-project/

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