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Industrialsafetytalk: Health and Safety Legislation
News Release from: HSE Health and Safety Executive
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 16 March 2006
Inadequate safe system of work leads to
fine
West Coast Traincare was fined £13,000 following a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a train maintenance worker's hand was run over by a train.
West Coast Traincare was fined £13,000 following a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a train maintenance worker's hand was run over by a train HSE's investigation found that there was an inadequate system in place for safely carrying out the work
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 1 Jul 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Following the conclusion of yesterday's hearing, Steve Turner, HSE's investigating inspector commented: "The sad fact is that there are very simple steps that, if employed, could have prevented this incident.
The staff were not adequately protected and there was a lack of communication between the various work groups".
The incident occurred on 26 October 2004 when 43-year-old Brian Birch, employed on maintenance activities by West Coast Traincare, was replacing brake pads underneath a set of carriages at the depot in Oxley, Wolverhampton.
Two colleagues were also working on the train conducting brake tests on the attached locomotive.
During the course of the testing, one of them released the train's braking system causing it to move forward.
One of the carriage wheels rolled over Mr Birch's right hand causing injuries resulting in the amputation of all his fingers and two knuckles.
Steve Turner continued: "The investigation found that the vehicle maintenance instruction for this type of work was inadequate leading to a local procedure being developed.
'Wheel scotches' - wooden blocks to prevent the train moving - should have been used, two in each direction of travel, at either end of the train.
Notice boards warning that the train should not be moved, on alternate sides of each end of the train also need to be in place.
Wheel scotches and notice boards were only partially used on the train involved in this incident.
"Formal instructions for the various working parties to communicate with each other, those under the train and those on the locomotive, would have also helped prevent the isolated working, evident in the run up to this incident".
Westcoast Traincare of Newbold Road, Rugby, Warwickshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA) at Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court in that it did not ensure the safety of persons in its employment or operate under a safe system of work for staff undertaking maintenance activities on 26 October 2004.
The company was fined £13,000 with costs of £3,500.
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