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A company has been fined after a worker was fatally electrocuted whilst operating a lorry mounted crane. The Injured Party (IP) was fatally electrocuted when the crane he was operating struck an overhead powerline whilst he was unloading materials in a field.
The HSE’s investigation found that no risk assessment had been carried out in the field where the incident happened, and no control measures were put in place to prevent contact with the overhead powerlines.
The Company was found guilty of breaching Sections 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and LOLER Regulation 8 (1). The company was fined £160,000 and ordered to pay costs of £45,000.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector said: “This death was easily preventable, and the risk should have been identified. Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from striking overhead powerlines. This death would have been preventable had an effective system for managing unloading materials been in place.”
Remember:
• FISA 804 states “Do not load or unload a forwarder or skidder if any part of the machine or its load (product being lifted) is likely to come within 10m of energised OHPLs. Where necessary, clearly mark the limit of work in relation to the energised OHPLs (see Figure 5). Use high-visibility tape or other markings.”
