16.09.2014

Fatal boom overturn easily avoidable

A UK company has been fined £200,000 following a boom lift fatality in April 2010 in East Ayrshire, Scotland.

Glasgow-based SW Global Resourcing admitted breaching health and safety laws resulting in the death of Leslie Watson, 47, after the elevated articulating boom he was using overturned while he was carrying out maintenance work on the Annick Water Viaduct in Stewarton. See: Fatal lift accident for the original accident report.

The Office of Rail Regulation and the Health & Safety Executive found that concrete platforms had been constructed to create a level working surface for the boom lift to work from, but that they did not have any end stops or edge protection. As a result Watson was able drive off the edge of the platform, while working at a height of around 15 metres, causing the boom lift to overturn. He died at the scene.

Gary Aitken, head of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal health & safety division, said: "SW Global Resourcing Ltd accepted liability and the Crown accepted its guilty plea to the contraventions of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. The company failed to ensure the safety of its employees and as a result of this Leslie Watson died.”

"This was an entirely avoidable tragedy which has left family and friends devastated at the loss of a loved one."

Vertikal Comment

Aerial work platforms do not simply overturn, the vast majority of incidents are caused by a lack of planning, awareness or training. This tragic incident is a classic example. The sad thing though is that once again it has taken us over four years to find out the cause and in the meantime the valuable lessons that this incident provides have not been shared with other users.

It is quite frankly a scandal and it is about time that the UK HSE looked to the timely and open way safety authorities in Australia and the USA issue reports.