Lack of training

Posted: Tuesday 21st, July 2015

Lack of training caused life changing injuries

Date: 9 July 2015

Essex tree specialist company, Oak View Tree Specialists Limited, has been fined
after a skip loading dumper overturned severely injuring a worker.

Basildon Magistrates’ Court heard how the injured person, who was an employee
at the company, was working at the rear of a house in Benfleet, Essex on 26
September 2014 when the incident occurred. The 19-year-old employee had only
a few minutes training on the use of the dumper truck. He had no driving licence
and was not wearing a safety belt when he overturned the vehicle.

He was airlifted to hospital where he was found to have broken his back. He spent
months in hospital and his injuries are life-changing. It is not known if he will ever
be able to walk again.

On 17 June 2015, Oak View Tree Specialists Limited, of Rayleigh, Essex, pleaded
guilty to breaching Regulation 9(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment
Regulations 1998 as it failed to ensure that its employees received adequate
training for the purposes of health and safety. The company was fined £3,000 with
costs of £1,500.

On sentencing, HSE Inspector Keith Waller, said: “This was entirely an avoidable
incident. The defendant failed to take reasonably practicable measures because
they allowed their employee to operate a dangerous item of plant machinery with
only the very minimum of training.

“It is not acceptable to put drivers into vehicles that they have not previously
operated, or without the necessary training by a qualified and competent
instructor.”