Skip to main content
IOSH Magazine: Safety, Health and Wellbeing in the world of work - return to the homepage IOSH Magaazine logo
  • Visit IOSH Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit @ioshmagazine on Twitter
  • Visit IOSH Magazine on LinkedIn
Readjusting the Lens: How to protect the psychosocial wellbeing of staff
Feel the Noise: The silent cost of hearing loss
Download the Jan/Feb 2021 Issue: Read the digital edition here

Main navigation

  • Home
    • Browse previous issues
  • Health
    • Mental health and wellbeing
      • Bullying
      • Drugs and alcohol
      • Mental health
      • Stress
      • Wellbeing
    • Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
      • Ergonomics
      • Manual handling
      • Vibration
    • Occupational cancer
      • Asbestos
      • Hazardous substances
      • Radiation
  • Safety
    • Incident management
      • Chemicals
      • Electricity
      • Fire
      • First aid
      • Slips and trips
    • Non-health related fatalities
      • Road safety
      • Work at height
    • Risk management
      • Confined spaces
      • Disability
      • Legionella
      • Lifting operations
      • Lone workers
      • Noise
      • Personal protective equipment
      • Violence at work
      • Work equipment
      • Workplace transport
  • Management
    • Human factors
      • Accident reduction
      • Control of contractors
      • Migrant workers
      • Older workers
      • Reporting
      • Safe systems of work
      • Sickness absence
      • Young workers
    • Leadership and management
      • Employee involvement
      • Management systems
    • Management standards
      • ISO 45001
    • Planning
      • Assurance
      • Compliance
      • Emergency planning
      • Insurance
    • Rehabilitation
      • Personal injury
      • Return to work
    • Strategy
      • Corporate governance
      • Performance/results
      • Regulation/enforcement
      • Reputation
    • Sustainability
      • Human capital and Vision Zero
  • Skills
    • Communication
    • Personal performance
      • Career development
      • Competencies
      • Personal development
      • Professional skills
      • Qualifications
    • Stakeholder management
    • Working with others
      • Leadership
  • Jobs
  • Covid-19
  • Interactive
    • Podcast
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • Products & Services
  • Management
    • Human factors
      • Sickness absence
      • Accident reduction
      • Control of contractors
      • Migrant workers
      • Older workers
      • Reporting
      • Safe systems of work
      • Young workers
    • Leadership and management
      • Employee involvement
      • Leadership
      • Management systems
    • Management standards
      • ISO 45001
    • Planning
      • Assurance
      • Compliance
      • Emergency planning
      • Insurance
    • Strategy
      • Corporate governance
      • Performance/results
      • Regulation/enforcement
      • Reputation
    • Sustainability
      • Human capital and Vision Zero
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • Mental health and wellbeing
      • Bullying
      • Drugs and alcohol
      • Mental health
      • Stress
      • Wellbeing
    • Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
      • Ergonomics
      • Manual handling
      • Vibration
    • Occupational cancer
      • Asbestos
      • Hazardous substances
      • Radiation
  • Safety
    • Incident management
      • Chemicals
      • Electricity
      • Fire
      • First aid
      • Slips and trips
    • Non-health related fatalities
      • Road safety
      • Work at height
    • Risk management
      • Confined spaces
      • Disability
      • Legionella
      • Lifting operations
      • Lone workers
      • Noise
      • Personal protective equipment
      • Violence at work
      • Work equipment
      • Workplace transport
  • Skills
    • Communication
    • Personal performance
      • Career development
      • Competencies
      • Personal development
      • Qualifications
      • Professional skills
    • Stakeholder management
    • Working with others
      • Leadership
  • Transport and logistics
  • Third sector
  • Retail
  • Mining and quarrying
  • Rail
  • Rehabilitation
    • Personal injury
    • Return to work
  • Utilities
  • Manufacturing and engineering
  • Construction
  • Sector: IOSH Branch
    • Sector: Northern Ireland
    • Sector: Midland
    • Sector: Merseyside
    • Sector: Manchester and North West Districts
    • Sector: Ireland East
    • Sector: Ireland
    • Sector: Edinburgh
    • Sector: Desmond-South Munster
    • Sector: Qatar
    • Sector: Oman
    • Sector: Singapore
    • Sector: South Coast
    • Sector: South Wales
    • Sector: Thames Valley
    • Sector: Tyne and Wear
    • Sector: UAE
    • Sector: West of Scotland
    • Sector: Yorkshire
  • Healthcare
  • Sector: Fire
  • Sector: Financial/general services
  • Sector: Energy
  • Sector: Education
  • Sector: Communications and media
  • Sector: Chemicals
  • Sector: Central government
  • Catering and leisure
  • Agriculture and forestry
  • Sector: Local government
  • Sector: IOSH Group
    • Sector: Financial Services
    • Sector: Sports Grounds and Events
    • Rural industries
    • Sector: railway
    • Public Services
    • Sector: Offshore
    • Sector: Hazardous Industries
    • Sector: Food and Drink
    • Sector: Fire Risk Management
    • Education
    • Construction
    • Sector: Aviation and Aerospace
Quick links:
  • Home
  • Categories
  • Topics
  • Management
  • Human factors
  • Safe systems of work
Work at height
Transport and logistics
News

London bus co’s £600k fine after contract worker’s fatal ladder fall

Open-access content 22nd February 2017

London bus co's £600k fine after contract worker's fatal ladder fall

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that bus company Go Ahead London, which operates Peckham Bus Garage, had commissioned an engineering maintenance company to carry out refurbishment work on the fuel tank at the South London premises. This involved cleaning and repainting it to prevent fuel contamination.

On 26 May 2011, two workers from the engineering maintenance company were due to start the work. But one of the workers phoned in sick and his 56-year-old colleague commenced the work alone. As he fixed the bungee to a lifting lug on the tank's roof the cord snapped and he fell backwards. He died two days later.

The HSE investigation found that Go Ahead London had not kept to its own procedures for managing contractors. This covered five key points.

First, it failed to properly review the contractor's risk assessments and methods of work before work started.

Second, it failed to notify managers at Peckham Bus Garage that the work was due to take place and ensure that they had key documentation. Third, it failed to train and instruct the garage's management in the permit to work system for work on the tank. Fourth, it failed to ensure that the contractor was properly supervised on the day of the incident, breaching its own systems for contractor safety.

Finally, Go Ahead London allowed the contractor to work on his own when it was unsafe to do so.

The engineering maintenance company (which cannot be named) was also prosecuted. However, the director was unfit to stand trial due to a degenerative mental illness. According to the HSE, there was a concurrent trial for acts and omissions under the Insanity Act. However, after Go Ahead's conviction, the jury was unable to reach a verdict and the HSE withdrew its evidence as it was deemed not to be in the public's interest to hold a retrial.

The case was originally heard at Westminster Magistrates' Court but the case was adjourned a number of times due to the co-defendant failing to attend court due to illness and then not entering a plea. Go Ahead London denied the charges but did co-operate fully with the investigation.

A two-week trial at Southwark Crown Court concluded on 14 February. In passing sentence, Judge Deborah Taylor determined that Go Ahead London's culpability was medium, with a harm category of 2, reflecting the medium likelihood of harm despite the fatality. In mitigation, she took into account the bus company's co-operation, and that it had a good safety record. Go Ahead London is part of the Go Ahead Group which employs 27,500 people.

Newcastle-based Go Ahead London, which operates 115 bus routes in the capital, was found guilty of s 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined £600,000 and ordered to pay costs of £78,531.

Topics:
Safe systems of work
Work at height
Transport and logistics
News
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Latest Jobs

Fire Safety Advisor

London
£35k - 40k per year
Reference
5447885

Fire Safety Manager

London
£45k - 52k per year
Reference
5447884

Health and Safety Manager

London
£45k - 52k per year
Reference
5447883
See all jobs »

Sign up for regular e-alerts

Receive the latest news and features, free to your inbox

Sign up

Subscribe to IOSH magazine

Receive the print edition straight to your door

Subscribe
IOSH Covers
​
FOLLOW US
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel +44 (0)20 7880 6200
​

IOSH

About IOSH
Become a member
IOSH Events
MyIOSH

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to IOSH magazine
Write for IOSH magazine

IOSH Magazine

Health
Safety
Management
Skills
IOSH Jobs

Copyright © 2021 IOSH. IOSH is not responsible for the content of external sites.