Concrete company fined after worker loses fingers

Concrete production company 1343 Hanson Quarry Products Europe has been fined £400,000 after a welder lost four fingers during what UK regulators say was an unsafe lifting operation.

Southwark Crown Court heard how on 27 September 2016, at the company’s Kings Cross site in York Way, London a forklift was being used to lift and swivel a large metal gate attached to the truck with a chain on a “O-ring” that was slotted onto the forklift truck tines with nothing to prevent it sliding off. As the gate was being lifted, it slipped off the tines and fell to the floor, slicing off the welder’s four fingers.

An investigation by the 2938 Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Hanson Quarry Products Europe did not properly plan and supervise this lifting operation to ensure it was carried out in a safe manner.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. In addition to the £400,000 fine, Hanson was ordered to pay full costs of £11,376.25.

HSE inspector Jane Wolfenden said: “The use of forklift truck, chain and O-ring was unsafe, putting workers at unnecessary risk. This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply having a competent person plan a safe lifting operation and providing adequate supervision to ensure the lifting operation was carried out safely."