A recent court case has highlighted the importance of making sure all hazards are identified and safe working measures are put in place. The case saw a steel company in the West Midlands fined more than £146,000 after an employee was crushed to death at work by a 15 tonne crane.

Wilfred Williams was working on an overhead crane, performing some maintenance. While working more than six metres off the floor he stepped off a gantry and sat down on a rail of a crane that was next to the one he was working on. The crane he was sat on was then moved by the operator who hadn’t noticed Mr Williams sitting down, crushing him against an upright stanchion.

Lack of Safety Equipment and No Safe System of Work in Place

The inspectors from the HSE investigated the accident and found there was no fall protection in place and a lack of safety harnesses. There was also a lack of safe system of work that could have prevented crush injuries or falls while working at height.

Training is often required to ensure that work on sites or when working at height is managed with the health and safety of workers in mind. You can find such information on a number of courses that have been designed for the construction industry. One such course is the NEBOSH National Certificate in Construction Health and Safety.

The Construction Certificate is suitable for anyone who must make day to day decisions while working in the construction industry. The course content includes many excellent elements such as the importance of controlling risks, the production of risk assessments and how to monitor, review and audit current health and safety issues. It gives information on the foundations of health and safety and raises awareness of the hazards that are commonly found, including:

  • Fires
  • Movement of people
  • Movement of vehicles
  • Work equipment hazards
  • Chemicals
  • Working at heights
  • Demolition
  • Excavation
  • Electrical
  • Hazards on construction sites

Failing to manage the health and safety on a site can result in the loss of lives. Avoid accidents and incidents by ensuring your employees are properly trained. Book places on the NEBOSH Construction Certificate by calling 0844 576 6750.