June 2011
NEWSLETTER
Construction deaths up during
recession
Client demands and corner cutting could have caused increase, says HSE report
The number of deaths on building sites has increased during the recession, according to comments
made by a senior source at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Chief construction inspector Philip White said that the total amount of people who have died in
construction work during 2010-11 is expected to have increased on the previous year.
He indicated that this trend has occurred against a backdrop of corner-cutting and clients becoming
more demanding of their contractors.
Last Month two construction firms in Northern Ireland were fined a total of £61,000 after 150
tonnes of concrete collapsed injuring six workers.
While earlier this month a trench collapsed at a site in Kent killing a 24-year old worker.
This comes as the HSE is seeing its budget reduced by 35% and is expected to cut the number of
proactive site inspections it makes.
A HSE Spokesman said: “It is too soon to say whether the in-year indications of a rise in fatalities in
the construction sector can be confirmed.
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“HSE will publish official fatality figures across all sectors in June, when they have been verified.”
“It is important HSE [has] access to reliable data and for many good reasons the information initially
reported to HSE can change in light of our inquiries.”
Other News
Tragic- father to be killed in trench collapse in Kent
A MAN who died in a horrific building site tragedy last month was looking forward to the birth of his
baby daughter in just one month's time.
Callum Osborne's pregnant girlfriend Colette Scott was too upset to speak this week, but left a
heart-breaking note at the scene, along with a tribute from his unborn child.
Firemen and ambulance crews battled to free 24-year-old Callum, from Canterbury, after a 6ft-deep
trench collapsed in on him in Bridgefield Road, Swalecliffe.
Kent Fire and Rescue's urban search team, fresh back from duty in Japan, were called for their
specialist expertise, and the Kent Air Ambulance landed on nearby Swalecliffe Primary School's
playing fields. Paramedics and firefighters used hand tools in the battle to free Callum, but despite
their efforts he is believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest at the scene.
Mr Osborne's employer, Wayne Cooper, 36, of Coopers Services, Minster, Ramsgate, was arrested
and interviewed the same day on suspicion of corporate manslaughter. He has been given police bail
until June 10 while a full investigation is carried out by the Health and Safety Executive. The
company specialises in sewer connections, demolition, ground work and site clearance.
Nearby resident Roger Turner saw Callum enjoying the sunshine just 30 minutes before the tragedy.
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He said: "He was sitting outside in the sun having his break, half-an-hour later it all happened. I was
gardening and I heard a load of shouting, followed by sirens and the helicopter.
"I realised the trench had collapsed and there were frantic attempts to get him out. I could see
firemen with ropes on the roof of the garage."
It is understood Callum was in the team of Coopers Services workmen installing the waste water
drainage for a development of two bungalows with garages.
Mr Turner said that although the site had about seven inches of top soil, the underlying yellow clay
was very heavy. Boulders of clay alongside the trench were clearly visible.
A large digger straddled the trench and a smaller excavator was also on site. The trench has now
been filled, following an extensive examination of the site by the Health and Safety Executive
investigator.
An inquest was due to be opened this week
AMONG tributes to Callum left at the scene was a Chelsea Football Club teddy bear with a note from
his unborn child. It read: "I know you will always be with me and I know you would have been the
best Daddy ever. I love you, your baby girl."
Traffic management at fault
Construction firm Carillion Highway Maintenance Limited and its traffic management subcontractor
have been fined a total of £202,000 after a worker employed by another subcontractor was killed
while working on the M25 motorway.
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Christopher Lewis, was carrying out fencing work close to the Holmesdale Tunnel section of the M25
near Enfield, when he was crushed between a van and a safety barrier after a lorry jack-knifed on
the motorway.
During the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution Southwark Crown Court was told Carillion
was carrying out repairs to overhead lighting in the tunnel in August 2004.
To allow the repair work to take place, Carillion arranged with Traffic Management (North East)
Limited (TMNE) to set up an overnight contraflow. CD Fencing and Construction Services Limited
were removing and restoring wire rope safety fencing in the central reservation.
The court heard after the repair work had been completed, Mr Lewis and colleague Simon Reid, both
employees of CD Fencing, were in a closed lane waiting to reinstate the safety fencing so the traffic
management equipment could be removed, allowing the tunnel to re-open.
Mr Lewis and his colleague were preparing their materials and equipment for the task when a lorry
jack-knifed in the contraflow system. The lorry hit cones and a stationary CD Fencing van, sending
the van careering towards the hard shoulder. The lorry passed within a metre of Mr Reid.
Mr Lewis was later found pinned between the van and a safety barrier at the rear of the hard
shoulder. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Gavin Shaw, an employee of TMNE, was knocked
over by a traffic cone and suffered a broken wrist.
Carillion Highway Maintenance Limited pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3(1) of the Health and
Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £200,000 with £50,000 costs. Traffic Management (North
East) Limited was found guilty of breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work
etc Act 1974 and fined £2,000 with costs of £120,000, it is in administration. The jury did not agree
on the charge against CD Fencing Ltd under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act
1974 and was formally acquitted when the prosecution concluded it was not in the public interest to
proceed to re-trial.
The driver of the lorry had been previously convicted of driving without due care and attention in a
case brought by the Crown Prosecution Service.
After the hearing, HSE Principal Inspector Andy Beal said:
"Although the lorry driver was not blameless, Carillion and TMNE failed to do enough to protect Mr.
Lewis and others working in the road that night.
"Speed limits were too high, there was a poor cone layout through the contraflow and there was
inadequate management of subcontractors.
"Had both firms met their legal responsibilities, this collision could have been avoided. The risks
associated with work on high speed roads are well known and it is vital traffic management systems
are correctly set up and well established safe guards are followed when people are working within
them."
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Safety Question and Answer
Q. What is the minimum top GUARD rail height as required by EN 12811?
ADF Answer
British standard EN 12811 States that ‘working and access areas shall be safeguarded by a side
protection consisting of at least a principal guardrail (top rail), intermediate side protection and a
toeboard. In accordance, the principal guardrail shall be fixed so that its top surface is 1m
(1, ooomm) or more above the adjacent level of the working area everywhere (absolute minimum
height 950mm)’
For more clarification look at the hse website at www.hse.gov.uk
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WHY NOT GET INVOLVED
Is there a health and safety area you would like covered or like us to
focus on in future issues of the ADF Newsletter?
Why not drop us a line either by email or by phone. Details in how
to contact us can be found on our website www.adfsafety.co.uk
The next edition of the ADF newsletter will be in July 2011
Please take note of the articles enclosed as they might prove to be very beneficial in your area of
business.
For any additional information please do not hesitate to contact Allen Fitchett or his consultants at
the Bexley office
STAY SAFE
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