Fatality: worker crushed between two items of moving plant
- Safety Flash
- Published on 2 March 2018
- Generated on 18 September 2025
- IMCA SF 05/18
- 1 minute read
The UK HSE reports that a civil engineering company has been sentenced for safety breaches after a worker suffered fatal crush injuries when he was caught between two pieces of heavy plant.
What went wrong? What were the causes?
The worker was caught between a 21-tonne tracked excavator moving backwards whilst involved in digging, and a stationary dumper truck. He was crushed and pronounced dead at the scene.
The HSE inspector noted: “If the two separate work activities cannot be avoided, then the area should be safeguarded and effectively managed with segregation in place, for example using fencing or barriers to delineate the ‘no go’ areas for pedestrians.”
Members may wish to review the importance of traffic separation and the safe-guarding of pedestrian workers in the context of quayside, dry dock bottom, and ship yard.
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