Building services company, SPIE Ltd has been fined £160,000 after a schoolboy was crushed when he was trapped between an unsecured pole and a fence
Sadly, the young boy died at the scene of the accident in Kelloholm, Dumfries and Galloway.
Dumfries Sheriff Court heard that on 15 October 2017, an employee of SPIE Ltd delivered an overhead power pole to a roadside verge adjacent to Mill Hill Medical Centre at Niviston Road and Corserig Crescent, Kelloholm.
The pole was left unsecured at the top of an embankment and subsequently rolled down, trapping the 12 year-old between it and a fence and causing fatal injuries.
HSE investigation
During an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), two distinct failings that led to the tragic incident were highlighted.
There was a failure to provide a safe system of work for the delivery and storage of poles to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that the poles were delivered to the correct location and that they were properly secured to prevent rolling.
There was also a failure to provide suitable training, information and instruction to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that employees engaged in the task of delivering poles properly secured them so that they could not roll.
SPIE Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at work etc Act 1974 and was fined £160,000.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Martin McMahon, said: “This terrible and tragic incident led to the avoidable death of a child. This death could easily have been prevented if the risks involved had been properly managed, through the provision of safe systems of work and suitable training of employees. Sadly however, that was not the case.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standard”.
Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at work etc Act 1974
It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.
