Stone Company Fined After Worker Fatally Struck by Falling Granite Slabs

Brief Summary

The Company was fined after a worker was killed when granite slabs fell from a lorry loader. The case highlights key control failures, including missing requirements in the Safe System of Work and inadequate instructions for offloading arrangements.

What Was The Incident?

On 4 September 2024, an employee was offloading granite slabs from the flatbed of a lorry at the company premises. Two granite slabs weighing over 900 kilograms in total fell from the lorry loader and struck him, causing fatal injuries.

What Was The Outcome?

The Company was fined £50,000 after pleading matters heard at Hamilton Sheriff Court. The Health and Safety Executive investigation identified multiple shortcomings in the company control arrangements.

What Lessons Can Be Learnt?

Ensure physical safeguards cannot be removed without control. Vertical safety posts that act as a barrier to prevent toppling were removed during the offloading operation, even though keeping them fitted was accepted custom and practice. If it is required for safe working, it must be specified and enforced in the Safe System of Work.

Safe System of Work must cover real offloading scenarios. The Safe System of Work did not distinguish between lifting a single slab and lifting multiple slabs, and it lacked specific instruction for handling multiple slabs, despite multiple lifting being regular practice.

Match staffing arrangements to the Safe System of Work. He was working alone, but the Safe System of Work specified that two people should be involved in offloading operations. Controls must be operationally workable and followed at the point of work.

Do not rely on custom and practice as a substitute for written requirements. The court heard that leaving the posts fitted was accepted custom and practice, but it was not specified in the Safe System of Work. Written procedures should remove ambiguity and confirm what must happen every time.

Review Safe System of Work for clarity, completeness and enforceability. Key elements that mattered to preventing falls and ensuring safe lifting were missing or not specific. Employers should check procedures address the exact tasks, loading conditions, lifting methods, and team arrangements used in practice.

HSE Prosecution Link