13/05/2015
Fairground Operator Fined After Employee Crushed
A fairground operator has been fined £5,000 after a worker got trapped when a trailer that was being pulled by nylon strapping rolled out of control.
Nigel Bell was also ordered to pay costs of £1,140 at Downpatrick Crown Court today after pleading guilty to a breach of Article 4 of the Health and Safety at Work Order (NI) 1978.
The case arose from a Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) investigation into an incident at Castle Park, Abbey Street, Bangor, on 24 April 2014.
The incident occurred during the dismantling and removal of a fairground ride during which a 27-year-old employee was trapped after a trailer that was being pulled by nylon strapping rolled out of control. It came to rest when it hit a wall, crushing the worker who sustained a number of injuries to his body which still require medical treatment.
An investigation by the HSENI revealed that the method Nigel Bell was using to move the trailer was unsafe and there was no mechanism to stop it rolling too far. On this occasion, his employee was crushed between the trailer and a wall.
Speaking after the hearing, Kevin Campbell, an inspector with HSENI's Major Investigation Team said: "This accident was easily preventable and underlines the need for trailers to be properly attached to lorry units and for trailers to have sufficient brakes to bring them to a halt."
(CD/JP)
Nigel Bell was also ordered to pay costs of £1,140 at Downpatrick Crown Court today after pleading guilty to a breach of Article 4 of the Health and Safety at Work Order (NI) 1978.
The case arose from a Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) investigation into an incident at Castle Park, Abbey Street, Bangor, on 24 April 2014.
The incident occurred during the dismantling and removal of a fairground ride during which a 27-year-old employee was trapped after a trailer that was being pulled by nylon strapping rolled out of control. It came to rest when it hit a wall, crushing the worker who sustained a number of injuries to his body which still require medical treatment.
An investigation by the HSENI revealed that the method Nigel Bell was using to move the trailer was unsafe and there was no mechanism to stop it rolling too far. On this occasion, his employee was crushed between the trailer and a wall.
Speaking after the hearing, Kevin Campbell, an inspector with HSENI's Major Investigation Team said: "This accident was easily preventable and underlines the need for trailers to be properly attached to lorry units and for trailers to have sufficient brakes to bring them to a halt."
(CD/JP)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Mainly dry and cloudy this morning, some patchy rain in the northwest. This afternoon will be cloudy with some light and patchy rain spreading southeast for a time. Maximum temperature 17 °C.Tonight:Clear periods across the north at first this evening. Otherwise a cloudy evening and night with outbreaks of rain spreading from the southwest. Light winds. Minimum temperature 7 °C.