Danger from high winds
Page 46
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At 6.10 pm on Thursday, June 22 1972, an accident occurred on the Ovangle Road at Heaton-with-Oxcliffe in the Lancaster Rural District, when a Ford 0750 tipper waggon carrying a portable workman's hut, 6ft long x 5ft wide x 5f1 3in high, on the flat of the lorry was caught by a strong gust of wind which lifted the hut into the air and a male employee, aged 52, who was in the hut, fell into the road and received fatal injuries.
It appears that the hut, or canopy, as they are commonly referred to, constructed of aluminium and fibreglass, was equipped with seats, but was not secured to the flat of the lorry, but could not slide or fall off of its own accord as there were metal sides and rear boards on the lorry.
It seems to be the accepted practice for some building contractors to convey their workmen to and from building sites, and other construction work in this form of shelter, and no doubt you will readily appreciate the dangerous situation which can arise should the vehicle be travelling on an exposed portion of road and be subject to high winds.
Any publicity that you can give to this particular danger would be greatly appreciated.
P. D. INMAN, Clerk of Lancashire County Council