UK firms fined over dropped timber accident

Neil Anson, 44, from Wolverhampton, was struck by timber falling from a mobile crane as he passed the construction site. The timber trusses were being unloaded by the crane from a lorry trailer.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted both firms involved in the incident—Kent Road Construction and Mr S K Sharma, trading as Fortmere Construction—following an investigation.

The case was heard at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court. Several packs of the roof trusses— with a combined weight of 400kg—fell onto Mr Anson, a self employed plasterer, fracturing his right leg, elbow, hand and thumb, the court heard. He was pinned to the floor while another, heavier, wooden structure also fell, only narrowly missing him.

Kent Road Construction Ltd. admitted breaching Regulation 8 (1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, and was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £4,496 costs.

Mr Sharma as Fortmere Construction, admitted breaching Regulation 14 (1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulation 2007, and was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £899 costs.

HSE inspector Martin Overstall said: “Mr Anson received very serious injuries as a result of this incident and had the falling timber hit his head, he would almost certainly have died.

“This case should remind companies managing construction sites and directing cranes to ensure all operators are properly trained and competent to do so. The law also requires companies that hire contractors to make reasonable checks that they are competent to carry out work on a construction site.

“In this case, the contractor failed to plan, supervise and carry out a safe lifting operation. The client company had not appointed a co-ordinator, one of whose roles would have been to advise the client on the competence of the contractor.”