22.10.2008

HSE suspends equipment use on Hochtief site

The UK Health and Safety Executive has suspended mobile ‘ride-on’ equipment and vehicle use at the Glendoe hydro-electric site in Scotland, following two accidents following two accidents in the past three weeks.

Three weeks ago Ondrej Hladik, 46, from Prague, was killed in an accident with a telescopic handler. Information is limited, although local news reports have said that the machines boom came down on Hladik as he leaned out of the cab.

Last week a roller overturned breaking the operators legs, it turned out that the machine was not fitted with a safety belt and the operator may not have been properly trained.

Since work began on the project two years ago, Hochtief Glendoe has been served with four enforcement notices by the HSE, all of which have been complied with, three of them related to explosives.

The use of mobile equipment has been banned until it is all certified as safe.