Groundworker killed by 16-tonne excavator

Grant Prior 9 months ago
Share

A North Yorkshire construction company has been fined £330,500 after a worker was struck on the head and killed by a 16-tonne excavator.

The site in Ripley, North Yorkshire
The site in Ripley, North Yorkshire

On 13 January 2021, Dean Myers, an employee of HACS Construction Ltd, was undertaking groundwork activities in a partially excavated trench at a site in Ripley, North Yorkshire.

During the works, the 56-year-old was struck on the head by the moving bucket of the excavator suffering catastrophic injuries to his face and head. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the ambulance service.

The groundworks team had been preparing the trench for the laying of new drainage. Myers had moved to the foot of an existing manhole directly adjacent to the trench when the excavator was reported to have met resistance whilst digging.

With nothing in place to prevent his entry into the danger zone of the excavator Myers exited the manhole via a makeshift opening to investigate. But the excavator driver and other workers were not in a position to see that he had entered the danger zone where the excavator bucket then swung into him with fatal consequences.

An HSE investigation found that HACS Construction Limited had failed to identify or assess the risk arising from using the existing manhole chamber as an improvised refuge.

This meant the company failed to implement a system whereby workers were prevented from entering the dangerous working zone of the excavator while the machine was being operated by a driver with limited sight.

There was also inadequate supervision on site, alongside a failure to carry out monitoring visits which would have identified crucial safety failings.

At Leeds Magistrates’ Court HACS Construction Limited of Ripley, North Yorkshire pleaded guilty to safety breaches and the company was fined £330,500 and ordered to pay £9,141.80 costs.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Ben Caines said: “This tragic incident could so easily have been avoided had HACS Construction Limited simply ensured that adequate control measures and safe working practices were identified and followed.

“The company should have put in place measures including the use of trained plant marshals for high-risk activities, such as the work Mr Myers was undertaking. Such measures are widely recognised and used across the construction industry as well as being advised within HSE and industry guidance.”

Latest news

Skanska signs £197m deal for Mayfair offices job

South Molton job consists of two big office buildings
20 hours ago

Cost of fixing unsafe cladding soars to over £16bn

Watchdog urges new 'hard target date' to complete all recladding works
20 hours ago

Scottish Water opens bidding on £800m framework

Innovative ceramic membrane water treatment works programme
20 hours ago

Carbon capture concrete hits London sites

Neustark and Aggregate Industries launch new technology to UK market
20 hours ago

Six win £300m cladding retrofit deal

Major social landlord Riverside Group to reclad 22 towers
20 hours ago

Winchmore lands brickwork package on Graham £80m academy

Alkerden Academy is one of the largest schools to be built in the region
21 hours ago

Construction firms blast “true cost of Budget”

Firms fear tax hikes will lead to reduced hours and job cuts for staff
4 days ago

Steel bridge specialist sold to staff

Nusteel Structures Group becomes industry's latest Employee Owned Trust
4 days ago

Ex-Lendlease chief to lead Euston housing regeneration

Bek Seeley to head Euston Housing Delivery Group
4 days ago

Ardmore lands Kensington hotel revamp

Contractor to transform former Kensington Holiday Inn
4 days ago

RED wins £35m brace of projects in Bristol

Works include student halls and major facade fire safety remediation
4 days ago

Wates starts £300m Gartree super prison job

Early works start on 1,700-prison place job next to existing prison
5 days ago

Five road schemes worth £1.3bn axed

Still no decision on £1.5bn A66 upgrade or £9bn Lower Thames Crossing
5 days ago

Budget: Chancellor to fund HS2 tunnels to Euston

Schools and hospitals get extra £1.85bn cash injection to tackle work backlog
6 days ago

Skills card changes will mean fewer labourers

CSCS wants to cut the numbers with 500,000 labourer cards currently in circulation
5 days ago

Wates hires former ISG fit-out chief to lead new team

Lee Phillips to head up new London office fit-out arm
6 days ago

Major London offices to student rooms scheme approved

65 Fleet Street office block to be converted to 850-student rooms
5 days ago

M Group Services buys MEICA contractor BGEN

Warrington-based engineering contractor employs 1500 staff
5 days ago

VINCI Construction swoops for FM Conway

Conway family sells £580m turnover Kent-based highways contractor
6 days ago

United Living bolts on property upkeep firm Pilon

Deal to buy £40m turnover social housing property services contractor
6 days ago

Sheffield facade specialist bought by Swedish firm

Building envelope giant Fasadgruppen makes first UK acquisition
6 days ago

Nexus buys Coleman Construction & Utilities for £5.4m

Nexus moves into civils with acquisition of East Sussex contractor
6 days ago

Councils get £68m to clear brownfield sites

Site renovation work will clear way for 5,200 new homes
6 days ago

Private investor buys Midlands contractor MCS

Deal values £100m revenue building contractor at £22m
6 days ago

Willmott Dixon to build Oxford net zero council HQ

Work to start next year on net zero office upgrade as Old County Hall sold off
6 days ago

Phoenix subbies get pay less notices after ISG failure

Building services specialist tells suppliers they won't be getting paid
7 days ago

Midgard confirmed on £60m Golden Lane office contract

Main works will create 120,000 sq ft of prime office space on historic site
7 days ago

Van Elle buys Scottish specialist Albion Drilling for £3.5m

Acquisition builds capability in Scotland's booming energy sector
7 days ago

French PM and cost consultant Artelia buys Pick Everard

Artelia UK operations swell to nearly 1000 staff after bolting on UK consultant
7 days ago

Go-ahead for West London 58-storey resi skyscraper

North Acton scheme at Old Oak Common to form gateway to emerging cluster
1 week ago

Contractor services