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164 
HSE warns on training
Page 8
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after man is crushed...
by Emma Penny The boss of a now defunct Dorset haulage firm has been fined £10,000, plus almost £8.000 in costs, after a man was crushed to death by a falling 40ft container.
Bournemouth Crown Court heard that the accident at Ferndown-based Steve Butler Haulage happened when a lifting operation was not "properly planned or carried out". At a previous magistrates hearing Butler had already pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations.
Self-employed Brian Smith was killed Instantly after a strap holding the 3.6-tonne box snapped and it smashed down on him.
Smith was attempting to direct Butler's reversing truck underneath the container in an operation to lift it from one vehicle to another using a flab crane.
For the HSE David Parry said that the container was lifted with four chains—one on each corner— but only one webbing strap at either end, passing through two 0shackles on the corners.
This was inadequate, he told the court. Subsequent laboratory analysis revealed that this lifting technique led to an overload of 53% on the straps. Additionally the webbing was curved and "pinched" in the shackles, reducing Its strength still further. Under the Lifting Operations and lifting equipment regulations (IDLER) this kind of lifting operation must be "properly planned and appropriately supervised", and this Includes ensuring employees were property trained, Parry added.
He concluded: "Sadly, knowledge of straps failing In these circumstances was only brought home to him after the accident."
Appearing for Butler, Antonia Jamieson said that he had a previously unblemished safety record but had since sold the company and equipment as ''he found It too difficult to continue with the business".
Fining Butler, Judge Samuel Wiggs said that this was a "tragic accident" which was Butler's responsibility. lie added that any effects on Butler had been "far outweighed" by the effects on Smith's widow and family.
He told Butler: "An even greater tragedy is the fact that on-site was the equipment which enabled the container to be lifted safely. The penalty cannot Ignore the fact that a man lost his UN because you didn't know how to operate the lift of this container."