R Tindall (Fabricators) Ltd fined £75,000 for fatality

Oldham manufacturing firm R Tindall (Fabricators) Ltd was fined £75,000 (inc.costs) after a worker died after he was crushed under metal pipework.

The circumstances were:

• The accident occurred during an operation to move pipework bundles.
• There was no risk assessment or documented system for moving and stacking pipework or any items around the site.
• There was a method for moving bundles using a wooden framework.
• However, the method of packing bundles had changed to a less stable arrangement without being documented anywhere.
• 53-year-old Frank Dunne was operating a side-loader forked lift truck which was carrying a vacuum packed pipe bundle. 
• While he was attempting to load a second bundle weighing 1.5 tonnes, it fell, crushing him underneath.
• There were no eye witnesses to the incident. 
• Mr Dunne was found over an hour later when work colleagues moved the side-loader which was still running, discovering his body under the pile.

The HSE Inspector said:
“There was no risk assessment carried out on this new method of working and no system put in place for the operators to follow. If the company had provided a safe system of work for their employees to follow this tragic incident to Mr Dunne could have been avoided.”