WORKPLACE TRANSPORT - 30.03.2020

Child killed by runaway pole

A company has been fined after a child was killed by an unsecured power pole which rolled from beneath him whilst playing. What steps should have been taken to ensure this didn’t happen?

Dangerous delivery

On 15 October 2017 an employee of SPIE Limited (S) dropped off overhead power poles to a roadside embankment in an Ayrshire village. They were left at the top of a slope and were not secured in any way.

Later, a group of children was playing in the area. 12-year-old Keiran Esquierdo was standing on one of the 10-metre-long, 275kg poles when it became dislodged and rolled down the slope. He fell down the embankment with it and was fatally crushed between the pole and a concrete fence post.

Investigation

Following the incident the HSE carried out an investigation and found that S had failed on two counts. The first was that the company had not provided its drivers with a safe system of work, and secondly that it had not given them training in the safety of such deliveries, including ensuring that they were secured against rolling. S received a £160,000 fine after it pleaded guilty to breaching s.3(1) Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 .

Public risk

The risk to children from stored equipment and materials is well-known. Items available to children may appear to be attractive play-things.

Examples of items which could be dangerous include: (1) heavy plant, vehicles and trailers; (2) objects which can be rolled, including concrete chamber rings, telegraph poles, and timber stacks; (3) unstable structures or stacks of bulk material; (4)  scaffolding, ladders and accessible roofs; (5)  pits and water containers; (6) waste compactors and bulk waste skips; and (7) roller shutters, sliding gates and pole barriers.

Tip 1. No matter what type of business you are in or where you are located, if you have external areas, consider the risks to trespassing children. First identify the hazards and then take precautions within reason, based on the likelihood of children getting on to the site unsupervised.

Tip 2. If you notice that children are starting to hang around your site, don’t ignore it. Review your risk assessments and take such additional action as is needed to keep them safe.

Keep them out

In many cases you’ll need security measures in order to prevent access to hazardous areas or items. For example you might enclose stored items including waste compactors with temporary fencing, secured with a locked gate. Vehicles and outbuildings should be locked with keys removed when not in use.

Tip 1. As shown in this case, consider how newly delivered items will be safe from the moment of arrival. Arrange the time of delivery so that you can make it safe before your site closes for the day.

Tip 2. Although you should consider these risks at all times of year, be especially vigilant during school holidays. You may need to take extra precautions at this time.

The company should have ensured that the delivery was left in a safe condition, bearing in mind that children might clamber on the poles. Unstable stacks are just one of many hazards which affect trespassing children. Review your site and your arrangements for deliveries from their perspective, being especially vigilant during school holidays.

© Indicator - FL Memo Ltd

Tel.: (01233) 653500 • Fax: (01233) 647100

subscriptions@indicator-flm.co.ukwww.indicator-flm.co.uk

Calgarth House, 39-41 Bank Street, Ashford, Kent TN23 1DQ

VAT GB 726 598 394 • Registered in England • Company Registration No. 3599719