A contractor based in the North East has been fined after failings in their working at height rescue planning, following the death of an employee.
Plymouth Magistrates heard that the employee, Mr Keith Stevens, 57, had been helping dismantle temporary roofing at Devonport Naval Base, using a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP). He was found by colleagues, trapped between a roof beam and the controls of the MEWP. A delay then followed the discovery, before Mr Stevens could be lowered to the ground. He passed away due to a pre-existing heart condition.
The investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the contractor, Pyeroy Ltd, of Gateshead, had not properly planned the work on a MEWP in restricted overhead areas. It was also found that Pyeroy employees had not received suitable training in the emergency lowering procedure of the elevated platforms and no practice drills had been carried out.
HSE inspector Helena Allum said: "If Pyeroy had trained other employees to use the mobile elevated work platform in emergency situations, Mr Stevens would have been lowered to the ground more swiftly. This case highlights the need for duty holders to properly plan all work at height beforehand, including emergency planning and rescue situations."
Pyeroy Ltd were fined £130,000 for breaches of the Work at Height Regulations SI 2005/735, alongside costs of £14,388.
