A Belfast-based plant hire company has been fined £80,000 after a mobile elevated working platform (MEWP) toppled off a trailer and ejected its operator, seriously injuring them.
The incident happened on 4 October 2022, during the loading of a large MEWP onto a lorry trailer on Hamilton Road, Belfast. The MEWP toppled off the side of the trailer as it was being driven onto it. The operator was ejected from the MEWP platform onto the road and sustained life-changing injuries.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) found that Balloo Hire Centre Ltd failed to adequately identify the risks associated with loading plant fitted with adjustable and retractable axles and failed to provide a banksman to assist the operator in safely controlling and directing the loading operations.
The company further failed to ensure adequate measures were in place to effectively segregate live traffic and pedestrians from the loading operation, which took place on a public road, placing members of the public at risk.
Balloo Hire Centre Ltd pleaded guilty to two health and safety offences and was fined £80,000 at Laganside Crown Court on 13 September.
HSENI inspector Kevin Campbell said: “Employers have a legal duty to ensure employees and others are not put at risk while machinery and plant is being loaded or unloaded.
“HSENI will not hesitate to recommend the prosecution of companies who fail to provide safe working conditions for their employees.”
