Firms fined after worker trapped

Three companies have been fined a total of £24,500 after a worker suffered serious leg injuries when he was trapped under a prefabricated wall.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard that electrician Martin Cox, 28, from Hayling Island, Hampshire, was injured after becoming trapped under the 10.4m by 2.8m wall as he and six other men attempted to lift it.

The Health and Safety Executive prosecuted the firms over the incident that happened on the BAE Systems site in Broad Oak, Portsmouth, on August 20, 2008.

Principal contractor Emcor Facilities Services Ltd and subcontractor BS Interiors (South) Ltd had decided to erect the wall flat on the floor due to the design of the building.

BAE Systems Ltd took on the role of Construction Design and Management co-ordinator, which meant they had to ensure that the design could be built without risks to the health and safety of workers, but failed to carry out any such checks.

Emcor Facilities Services Ltd also failed to identify issues with the planning of the operation and the manual handling of the wall.

BAE Systems Properties, of Warwick House, Farnborough Aerospace Centre, Farnborough, Hampshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 20(2)(c) of the Construction (Design and Management Regulations) 2007 (by virtue of Regulation 14(1) of the Construction (Design and Management Regulations 2007). The company was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,110.

Emcor Facilities Services, of Birdhall Lane, Stockport, Cheshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 22(1)(a) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 200 and was fined £15,000 with £6,110 in costs.

BS Interiors (South), of Cardiff Road, Portsmouth, was fined £1,500 after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of the Manual Handling (Operations) Regulations 1992.