Employer sentenced after worker struck by excavator

A sole trader who operated a construction and demolition waste recycling business received a suspended prison sentence and was ordered to pay costs after a worker sustained serious crush injuries when he was struck from behind by a 13.5 tonne excavator.

Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how, on February 11, 2019, the 50-year-old employee was manually sorting demolition waste in the yard of the waste recycling premises of William Leeson, trading as W Leeson and Son, in Walkden, Greater Manchester.

He was struck by the a 360-tracked excavator, which reversed over the lower part of his left leg as he bent down to pick up some waste from the ground, resulting in life-changing injuries.

These injuries have prevented his return to work and left him struggling to cope independently with daily activities – he is currently awaiting a below-the-knee amputation of his left leg.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that W Leeson and Son had no safe system of work in place to effectively segregate pedestrians and vehicles, thereby ensuring the pedestrian pickers were always a safe distance from the moving vehicles.

The firm pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Mr Leeson was sentenced to 17 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay costs of £9,000.

HSE inspector, Jackie Worrall, said: “This injury could have easily been prevented had Mr Leeson ensured that effective segregation of pedestrians and vehicles was in place.

“This case is a reminder to all employers to properly assess the risks arising from workplace transport and to put in place effective control measures to minimise these risks.

“Most importantly, where vehicles and pedestrians operate within the same workspace, it is essential that there is effective segregation at all times.”

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