Company Fined after Worker is Hit by Bus

A firm has been fined for safety failings after a court heard it failed to keep and maintain a safe place of work whilst laying a pipe under a road surface, which resulted in an accident at work.

Rebeck Communications Limited was contracted to lay a pipe under the whole width of a road in Northamptonshire on 14th May 2014.

Northampton Magistrates’ Court heard that in regular circumstances a safety zone of 0.5 meters should have been maintained whilst undertaking this sort of work. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the road was classed as ‘narrow lines’ due to its’ width of 4.8 meters.

A temporary traffic management system was implemented, closing one lane whilst traffic was able to travel on the other ‘live’ lane. This type of system usually relies on self-management by drivers using the road.

However, whilst resurfacing the road once the pipe had been laid, a worker was hit by a moving bus. He suffered serious injuries including severe ligament and muscle damage and a dislocated knee.

The court heard that the required 0.5 meter safety zone had not been maintained whilst the work was carried out and no further safety measures had been put in place. The court also heard that is was likely the worker had to step into the lane of traffic as the bus was passing in order to position equipment.

After pleading guilty to Regulation 26(2) of the Construction, Design and Management Regulations 2007, Rebeck Communications Limited, of Eagle House, Billing Road, Northampton was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,293.

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Source: Health & Safety Executive