IBC Vehicles fined over serious safety failings 25 June 2014

Van manufacturer IBC Vehicles has been fined nearly £180,000 in court for safety failings after a crane operator suffered severe crush injuries in July 2011 at its press shop in Luton.

The worker, who does not want to be named, suffered multiple injuries, including fractures to his upper left arm, breastbone, right collarbone and ribs, as well as collapsed lungs.

Luton Crown Court heard that the employee had lowered an eight-tonne die block into its storage position, and was unhooking it from the crane's lifting chains when the 50-tonne crane started to move, dragging the block towards him and crushing him against another block.

HSE found a protective frame around the control levers of the crane, designed to prevent inadvertent operation, was missing. There were also serious shortcomings with the company's maintenance of lifting equipment and management of lifting operations – including provision of training and information for crane operators.

The court was also told that a number of the 10 cranes in the press shop had previously missed annual examinations by as much as 12 months, and that some failed to have identified maintenance issues resolved.

"There were multiple failings on the part of IBC Vehicles," comments HSE inspector Stephen Manley.

"Cranes had not been maintained or inspected properly; operators had not been given adequate information or regular training; and lifting operations were not properly planned – including, in particular, the systems for daily checks on the equipment," he ocntinues.

"Although only a small number of these failings may have contributed towards the incident, as a whole they had the potential to create a serious risk to which many employees at the company would have been exposed for some considerable time."

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Health & Safety Executive
IBC Vehicles

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