UK HSE: fall from height injury at container port
- Safety Flash
- Published on 25 September 2024
- Generated on 15 June 2026
- IMCA SF 19/24
- 2 minute read
The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a logistics company after a worker fell over 10 metres and sustained serious injuries.
What happened?
The worker fell through an open hole in the driver’s cab of a straddle carrier, landing on the concrete floor below. The hole had been created by contractors who were replacing a glass floor. See press release.
What went wrong?
- The worker, who was undertaking routine maintenance work, was unaware of the open hole before falling onto the floor.
- The worker’s employer had failed to ensure there was a safe system of work at its site – there should have been a system in place that ensured the replacement of the glass floor and routine maintenance work could be carried out safely at the same time.
- The company also failed to ensure there was a risk assessment in place.
- The company failed to implement its own policy for the use of permits to work whilst working at height.
Lessons to learn
Before performing a similar task, persons involved should be asking the following questions:
- Are you aware of what is going on around you? Take nothing for granted, particularly when working at height.
- How are you dealing with simultaneous operations?
- How are you dealing with the complexities of ensuring safe operations if multiple contractors are working at the same worksite at the same time?
- Is your risk assessment suitable and sufficient? Some recent Safety Flash incidents highlight cases where risk assessment was not specific enough.
- Are you following your OWN company rules?
Members may wish to refer to:
IMCA M 023 Guidance on simultaneous operations (SIMOPS)
IMCA HSS 032 Guidance on safety in shipyards
Related Safety Flashes
-
IMCA SF 05/22
28 February 2022
-
-
IMCA SF 19/17
2 August 2017
-
IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.
The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.
All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.
IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.
Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.