Risk news

Construction firms have been urged to carry out a thorough risk assessment before carrying out any work involving trenches.

The call came from Health and Safety Executive inspector Dr Dave Shallow following an incident in which a building worker was injured and trapped for more than two hours when the trench he was in collapsed.

Vickers Construction Limited, of Yarm Road, Eaglescliffe pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at Darlington Magistrates' Court.

It was fined £5,000 for the offence and ordered to pay £3,178.10 in costs.

John Taylor, the 44-year-old construction worker involved in the incident, was trapped from the waist down after the wall of the trench he was laying pipes in collapsed.

Dr Shallow said: "Companies need to recognise the dangers of excavations and ensure safe systems of work are in place before workers enter excavations."

Some 2,800 people have died as a result of workplace injuries sustained in the construction industry over the last 25 years.

If you need to gain an understanding of the hazards associated with the construction industry and how they can be controlled, consider our NEBOSH Certificate in Construction Safety and Health.