Man Injured when Crushed against Skip at Waste Site
A man was injured after he was crushed against a skip in a work accident at an environmental waste site.
The unnamed man was working for Rugeley Environmental Waste Services Ltd when the accident happened in September last year. He had been tasked with handpicking waste from a skip at the premises in Staffordshire.
Whilst he was doing this, a skid steer loader vehicle reversed into him and pinned him against the skip he was emptying. He was airlifted to hospital where he was treated for a groin injury.
The Health and Safety Executive found that the accident happened in a relatively confined space, with no clear separation of workers and vehicles. There was also found to be no risk assessment undertaken for the use of vehicles on the premises.
At Stafford Magistrates Court earlier this week, the company were fined £5,000 after they pleaded guilty to breaking health and safety law in regards to the accident.
A spokesperson for the HSE stated afterwards that the accident could have been easily prevented by the segregation of vehicles and personnel. They also stressed the importance of carrying out risk assessments when vehicles are used in the workplace.
