Four fined for MEWP blunder

The incident happened during a simple window replacement job on the third floor of Leeds Prison in Armley

Stuart Tombs was the site manager via his own company SJT Site Management Ltd and he had been contracted by Longcross Construction Ltd, the principal contractor for the window replacement work.

Longcross also subcontracted Fewell Engineering Ltd and it was a Fewell employee who was pushing a trolley with the new window on it when the incident occurred.

Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard how on 8th September 2014 an employee of SJT was operating a mobile elating work platform (MEWP) and driving it into position when one of the wheels struck the Fewell employee and partially ran over his feet.

The injured man suffered multiple fractures in his right foot, a fracture of his left ankle and soft tissue damage to both feet.

An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found that Longcross, Fewell and SJT had all failed to prepare suitable and sufficient risk assessments and method statements for the job.

It was also discovered Stuart John Tombs forged or fabricated site health and safety documents in an attempt to deflect responsibility.

Fewell Engineering Ltd, of Fairfield Works, High Wycombe Buckinghamshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £702.

Longcross Construction Limited, of Hill House, Little New Street, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £303.

SJT Site Management Limited, of Watling Street, Bridgtown, Cannock, Staffordshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and was fined £600 and ordered to pay costs of £199.

Stuart John Tombs, of Bondway, Hednesford, Cannock, Staffordshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 33(1)(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and was fined £100 and ordered to pay costs of £149.

Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk