Frayed straps cause spill
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A Stockport haulage company has been fined £500 after an artic shed a load of steel pipes as it negotiated a sharp turn in a Peak District village.
Romiley-based Chris Bennett Heavy Haulage and driver Jeffrey Gordon both pleaded guilty to using a vehicle with a dangerous load, but a row developed as they pointed the finger of blame at each other.
Neil Hoodless, prosecuting, said the accident happened on 30 October last year. As the artic turned sharply from the main A6 into Canal Street, Whaley Bridge, the webbing straps securIng the load snapped and three of the pipes fell onto the pavement.
Gordon told police that he would have used chains to secure the load, but the ratchets for the chains had been stolen. Although he had reported it to the company he was told to get on and do the job.
However, when director Chris Bennett was interviewed, he said that the driver had been issued with all the necessary equipment to secure the load properly. For the company Jonathan Lawton said that Gordon had collected the load of pipes from Audenshaw, only two miles from the company's base. He chose to apply straps to secure them but neglected to protect them from the sharp edge of the pipes. Lawton added that the company had a store full of chains and other relevant equipment and Gordon could have phoned in if he had not got the right equipment with him. Lawton argued that the company ought not to be penalised because of an error by the driver, who had failed to exercise a sufficient duty of care in securing the load.
For Gordon, Simon Morton said he had tried to take extra care by putting on as many straps as he could and performing the manoeuvre at very low speed, but regrettably the webbing straps had frayed at the edges. "He views this as a slur on his professional driving history," Morton added.
The magistrates fined the company £500 and Gordon £200, with £35 costs.