The need to undertake regular OHSAS 18001 training has been highlighted by a £17,000 fine handed out to a water company.

Northumbrian Water was ordered to pay the financial penalty as well as £17,045.04 in costs after one of its employees was almost crushed to death.

Robert Ayers, 38, from Lowestoft, became trapped between the loading bucket and cab of his construction vehicle at the company's Lound Water treatment works site.

The incident occurred as Mr Ayers was climbing back into the cab of the vehicle, when he slipped and accidentally activated its bucket.

An investigation carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the safety device to prevent the operation of the bucket when there is no one in the cab was not working properly.

It also revealed that Mr Ayers and other colleagues had not received proper training in the use of such machines.

Richard Hines, investigating HSE inspector, pointed out that Mr Ayers was lucky to be alive and commented: "It was a simple example of faulty equipment and insufficient training creating a potential disaster."

HSE statistics show that 20 people were killed in 2008/09 as a result of injuries sustained from coming into contact with moving machinery, while a further 18 died after becoming trapped by something collapsing or overturning.

Posted by Eliot Kemp

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