13.02.2008

Bellshill fatality - Updated

We now have more information on the 24 year old steel fixing labourer who died whilst using a Genie platform on a site at Eurocentral in Motherwell, Scotland.

The 24 year old steel fixing labourer died whilst using an articulated boom lift on a site at Eurocentral in Motherwell last Thursday (7th February).

A statement issued by main contractor Bowmer & Kirkland said: "that the labourer was employed by a steel fixing sub contractor and was fixing a secondary framing system for curtain walling from a Genie Z-60/34 platform when he became trapped by the neck between the top of the control shroud/basket and the underside of the secondary framing system. He died as a result of the injuries."

"Technical examinations have shown that the machine was functioning correctly, was well maintained and fitted with a control shroud. The labourer was restrained in the basket by the correct harness/lanyard."

The statement also says that the "site was well-managed and the management team has been able to demonstrate auditable management actions for health and safety including inductions, access control, red/yellow cards for non-conformance, method statement vetting and briefings, checks on plant and operator training and weekly inspections ahd harnesses."

It goes on to say that "the incident has been reported to the Health & Safety Executive which has started an investigation into the circumstances, and Bowmer & Kirkland is co-operating fully with them. Bowmer & Kirkland wish to extend its deepest sympathies to the workers family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time."

Our original report stated that the man was killed after having taken the 60ft self propelled platform apparently without permission from his employer, and from what we can ascertain, was not properly trained on its use. When asked, Bowmer & Kirkland was unable to shed comment on either of these at this time.

The man telescoped the boom's platform through an opening into the building to reach something. Our initial information stated that On retracting the platform he decided to drive the machine rather than telescope in. and that the rear axle of the lift dropped into a depression causing a catapult effect which thrust the man upwards into a steel beam breaking his neck.

The contractor believes that the operator actually boomed up into the beam, and stated that the ground conditions behind the machine were good.

The machine, itself was unaffected by the accident, it is owned by The Platform Company, when we called them to ask about the accident, a spokesman said that they could not discuss any details with us, nor did they feel it appropriate to confirm or deny the version of events that we had discovered.

The company did email us a statement which we publish below in its entirety,

“The Platform Company can confirm that an operative on the Bowmer & Kirkland site at Euro Central in Glasgow has been killed whilst working on a Genie Z60/34 on hire from TPC. The operative is not an employee of The Platform Company.

The machine is question is a 2006 model and we can confirm that all the relevant test certification and documentation was in order and fully in date. The machine was not held in compound by the HSE or the main contractor and has now been returned to our yard, whereby further and thorough independent tests of the machines have found no faults and all in excellent working order.

The Platform Company will of course be co-operating fully to try and establish the facts behind this accident.

The Platform Company would like to express its deepest sympathies to all the family, friends and colleagues at this time.”

Vertikal Comment

The statement issued by Bowmer & Kirkland confirms most of the details of what we understood to have happened. We are satisfied that the chain of events we have described above is very close to what happened and any missed details or errors would not change the main cause of the fatality.

We therefore feel that it makes sense to make this available so that others might learn and see how an extremely safe piece of equipment which saves lives every day can also destroy them when used incorrectly usually due to the lack of proper training.

Not only has this man lost his life and devastated his family, but he will also have caused intense grief among his work colleagues, his employer and the supplier of the machine.

If anyone is able to add to this or to correct any errors we might have made please do not hesitate to email us on [email protected]