Risk news

A quarry operator has been given a £30,000 fine after a 30-tonne vehicle overturned and slid down a sand stockpile.

Beverley Magistrates' Court heard that an unnamed employee was undergoing training as a wheel loader operator when the incident occurred.

In October last year, the man in question was transporting sand from a stockpile when the access ramp edge he was driving on gave way, causing the machine to overturn and fall almost 16ft.

The lack of barriers allowed worsened the accident and the trainee lost consciousness, suffered concussion and was hospitalised for two days.

Prosecution was brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which identified the failings of the company responsible for the site.

There was an evident failure to assess, identify and minimise potential risk, ultimately amounting to a lack of protection for the worker, the HSE said.

Following the hearing HSE inspector Richard Noble said: "This accident could have been avoided had sufficient edge protection been put in place at minimal cost, which has been the standard within the quarrying industry for many years."