Hiab Accident, Worker Crushed

Truck driver fined after worker crushed in brick clamp

An experienced lorry loader operator has been ordered to pay £2,500 after a co-worker was crushed in the brick clamp of a loader and seriously injured.

In a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation, Yeovil Magistrates’ Court was told how in November 2010, Mark Pratten, 53, an operator at Saint Gobain Building Distribution, trading as Jewson Builders Merchant, attempted to use a brick clamp on a truck crane to lift Peter Hoy, 47, a self-employed general builder off the roof of a cabin while he was collecting building materials from a construction site in Rode, Somerset.

The pallet of materials they were collecting was behind an eight foot wall and it was not possible to pick them up normally with the lorry crane that the men were using.

In trying to guide the crane into place Hoy climbed onto the roof of the cabin and to get down quickly Pratten tried to lift him with the grab of the crane.

Hoy walked between the arms of the clamp, which was at waist height, in preparation to gain a foot or hand hold. As he did so, Pratten attempted to move the arms.

However, he used the wrong switch and inadvertently operated the clamp button.

The arms clamped Hoy’s waist, fracturing his pelvis and causing crush-related internal injuries, including nerve damage. His injuries are so severe that he is still off work.

Pratten, who has now lost his job, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined £1,500 with £1,000 costs.

i always make sure i pull the right levers when lifting someone in the bucket :sunglasses:

seriously though,what a pair of effin idiots!

There’s been one or two I wish I had the cojones to pull the wrong lever on :smiley:

When i worked for a builders merchant i had a remote control crane, i dropped a bulk bag of sand of went to pick the crane up but instead of going up it slewed across nearly taking a young lads head off it ■■■■ him up and me.
But i hadn’t pulled the wrong lever the controls somehow had become muddled up. :open_mouth:
Give me big manual levers to pull any day.

There is no cure for stupidity :unamused:

Easy done a mistake I suppose but in this case what an idiot.

Reminds me of my first day doing scaffolding. Delivered to some flats in Edinburgh. Had a boy with me to help, who convinced me against my better judgement that it was ok to lift 2 pallets of scaffolding over a car, the last driver always done it. :unamused: The car was crushed, probably a write off as to much weight for crane. Made a good show for passing members of public. :smiley:

Reminds of this pic

They are complete idiots in that picture… no one has a hard hat or hi vis on :exclamation: :slight_smile:

nickyboy:
Reminds of this pic

looks like a bloody good idea to me!!

My uncle had his leg crushed as he was fitting a street light (council) driver turns out was NOT trained on Hiab . Never worked again after 20 odd years service , he was in process of suing when he died , only got settled enough to pay back his “invilidity payments !” and to cover funeral.
Just make sure your working with someone who’s qualified .