Fines follow concrete pumping fatality
Company and sole director fined after safety failings led to the death of new employee
CONCRETE pumping company Anytime McDaids Ltd and their sole director have been fined a total of £32,600 after a worker was struck and killed by concrete.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 13 February 2017, employee Kevin Hoare was attempting to clear a blockage in a vehicle-mounted concrete pump at a job site in Wimbledon when the pump ejected concrete which struck and killed him.
The 26-year-old employee had been with the company for just two months at the time of the incident.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Anytime McDaids had no system to train operators to carry out the work safely or arrangements to supervise them.
As such, the company failed to ensure the safety, so far as is reasonably practicable, of its employees and of others who may be affected by their work due to this lack of adequate training and supervision.
The Court also found that the company’s failings were due to the neglect of sole director Laurence McDaid.
Anytime McDaids Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and were fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs of £12,102.81.
Laurence McDaid pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £2,600 and ordered to pay costs of £636.99.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector James Goldfinch said: ‘Concrete pumps have great potential to be dangerous when operated by those without suitable training, as they operate under high pressures.
‘All employers should ensure that equipment which can kill or cause harm to employees and nearby members of the public are operated by suitably trained and supervised workers.
‘Company directors like Mr McDaid have a responsibility to ensure their company works in compliance with health and safety legislation, part of which is to ensure their employees are provided with adequate training and supervision.
‘In this case a young worker, having only been employed by the company for two months, was not provided with adequate training and supervision, which led to the unsafe operation of the pump and ultimately his tragic death.’
