Patrick Murphy, a 58-year-old from Watford, was struck and run over by a JCB loading shovel as he was clearing litter at FCC Waste Services (UK) Ltd’s Waterdale waste transfer station on 17th August 2012. He died at the scene. He had worked as a groundsman at the site since 2004.
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted FCC Waste Services (UK) Ltd at St Albans Crown Court after an investigation found the company failed to organise and control the workplace to ensure that pedestrians and vehicles could circulate and operate safely.
The court heard that the site handled waste that was delivered to the site by bin lorries. The vehicles would be driven across the manoeuvring yard, or apron, to a large warehouse known as the tipping hall. Two wheeled loaders shovelled the tipped waste around and it was one of these which struck and killed Mr Murphy while he was litter-picking out on the apron.
.png)
Northampton-based FCC Waste Services (UK) Ltd was fined a total of £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £65,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) and Regulation 17(1) of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and to breaching Regulation 5(1) of the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
HSE inspector Roxanne Barker said: “There are significant risks associated with operating large construction type vehicles on waste sites, particularly when, as in this case, the vehicles have restricted visibility. These risks are well known and easily controlled using reasonably practicable precautions.
“Every year many people are killed or seriously injured in incidents involving workplace transport, and there is no excuse for companies that neglect this risk. Pedestrians, whether they are employees or not, should be kept separate from these types of vehicles through physical barriers or safe systems of work that are clear and well supervised.”
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
