A reminder about the need to reduce vehicle reversing was issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following a court case over a fatality in 2016.
The case, heard at Northampton Crown Court last week, resulted in a fine for Enterprise Managed Services Limited, part of Amey, of £1,020,000, with the company ordered to pay costs of £60,476.
The incident occurred in 2016 in Daventry (picture: Shutterstock)
The Amey refuse collection crew worker was killed in an incident with a refuse truck while collecting waste from properties in Daventry on 8 April 2016. The deceased, Kane Beard, 22, from Daventry, had been working as part of a four-man collection crew when the incident occurred on Ashby Road at its junction with Langdon Close shortly before 9.45am (see letsrecycle.com story).
Amey handled the household waste and recycling collections in Daventry under a contract procured jointly with Northampton council which was to expire in 2018.
Reversing
In a statement, the HSE said the worker, Mr Beard, “was fatally injured by a reversing vehicle”.
It added: “He tripped and fell under the wheels of the refuse lorry in Ashby Road, Daventry, whilst on a routine collection of recyclable refuse.”
An investigation by the HSE into the incident found that “a suitable and sufficient risk assessment had not been carried out for the collection route and there was a failure to adequately supervise the Daventry waste and recycling round”.
Enterprise Managed Services Limited of the Chancery Exchange, Furnival Street, London pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
‘Tragic’
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Michelle Morrison said: “This tragic incident led to the death of a young man, which could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out a suitable and sufficient route risk assessment and identifying where reversing could be avoided.
“Those in control of workplaces are responsible for identifying and implementing suitable methods of working to reduce the need for vehicle reversing”
“Those in control of workplaces are responsible for identifying and implementing suitable methods of working to reduce the need for vehicle reversing.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
Amey statement
An Amey spokesperson said: “We can confirm at a hearing at Northampton Crown Court on Wednesday 31st March 2021, Enterprise Managed Services Ltd (EMSL), pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. This related to an incident that occurred in April 2016 at Ashby Road, Daventry which sadly resulted in the accidental death of Kane Beard.
“The Court acknowledged that EMSL has a good health and safety record, no previous convictions and takes health and safety very seriously.”
The spokesperson continued: “We deeply regret that this incident took place and again express our sympathies to Kane’s family. The health, safety and wellbeing of our employees, supply chain partners and the public is our top priority and we are committed to safe working practices at all times.”
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
