July 11, 2024
Construction firm fined after driver is struck by a mast
An engineering and groundworks contractor has been fined £233,000 for safety breaches after a driver was killed.
The 52-year-old was struck by the mast of a piling rig at a house build site in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway.
Gary Dobinson, who was employed by another company, was visiting the Hallmeadow development off Elm Road with his lorry to collect and transfer the piling rig owned by Van Elle on 21 January 2021.
Tragically, as the mast of the rig was being lowered in preparation for its transportation, it collapsed and struck Mr Dobinson. Site workers and the emergency services raced to the scene to try to help him, but he sadly died from his injuries.
An investigation by Police Scotland and the HSE found that insufficient measures had been taken to maintain the piling rig in a safe condition prior to the incident. Specifically, the securing lug for one of the mast’s retaining pins was badly corroded and failed, allowing the pin to displace, causing the mast to topple.
Van Elle, of Southwell Lane, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 5 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
The company was fined £233,000.
FleetNews
June 2024
