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Crane operator pinned under falling scrap lead

Open-access content Thursday 7th June 2018
From the archive:  Just so you know, this article is more than 3 years old.

The crane operator, who was employed by HJ Enthoven & Sons, was using an overhead crane to lift a bin of scrap lead when the bin slipped. Its contents emptied on to the worker, trapping and injuring him.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the company had failed to properly plan the work and ensure it was supervised by a competent person.

HJ Enthoven pleaded guilty to breaching s 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act. It was fined at Luton Magistrates' Court, where it was also ordered to pay £6,510 costs.

HJ Enthoven is part of Ecobat Technologies, a global lead producer and recycler that turned over more than £2bn in 2017, according to accounts filed with Companies House. The group promotes workplace safety and health through its Safe for Life campaign and has recently launched a new programme, entitled Stop and Think, which is designed to encourage workers "to review the safety of the task they are about to perform".

HSE inspector Rubeena Surnam said: "This incident could so easily have been avoided if the company had properly planned the work and implemented the control measures identified."

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