Construction industry warned after EA fined £170k

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned construction contractors today (Friday) that they should ensure proper planning and precautions before undertaking work near water.

The advice follows an HSE prosecution of the Environment Agency (EA) at Lincoln Crown Court where it was fined nearly £170,000.

The Agency pleaded guilty to a single health and safety breach after the death of its employee Steven Hughes who was working on flood banks on the River Witham, in Lincoln, on 12 September 2001.

Hughes drowned when the soil-laden dumper truck he was driving overran the edge of the bank and overturned into the river.

The Agency argued that it had prepared a plan that required all vehicles to be kept a safe distance from the edge of the bank.

But the HSE ruled that the plan did not specify what physical precautions could or should be taken to prevent vehicles overturning into the water and did not adequately consider what equipment was selected for the conditions or set out safe haul routes, passing points and turning areas.

The court heard that Hughes had not been trained to drive the vehicle.

The Agency was fined £150,000 and ordered to pay costs of £19,710.