Contractor Fined After Tipper Truck Fell From Excavation Ramp Edge

Brief Summary

An employer working on an HS2 cut and cover tunnel site was prosecuted after a 20 tonne tipper truck fell off the edge of an excavation ramp, resulting in multiple injuries to the driver. The enforcement focused on failures to manage vehicle routes safely, including lack of edge protection and inadequate control of changes to traffic arrangements during the works.

What Was The Incident?

On 27 July 2021, at a site in Copthall North near Uxbridge in West London, a 20 tonne tipper truck fell about two metres from the edge of an excavation ramp and landed on the driver side. The driver suffered a broken nose, a cut hand, and a shoulder injury.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £400,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,974.

Key Points To Consider

Plan vehicle routes before work starts and keep them stable. Where earthworks and transport routes are being used, the route layout must be planned properly so vehicles can move without needing drivers to guess or improvise.

Control changes to traffic routes and communicate them promptly. When working areas change, review how the change affects vehicle movements and ensure route changes are promptly communicated to all parties operating vehicles on site.

Provide effective edge protection at excavation and ramp edges. HSE found there was no edge protection to stop vehicles going over the edge, reinforcing the need for physical barrier arrangements such as safety banks where vehicles are operating near excavation edges.

Make sure haul routes are signed and consistent with the intended layout. Inspectors identified no signs on the haulage routes being used, which can undermine route control and increase the risk of vehicles taking an unsafe path.

Verify temporary works and excavation stability where vehicles operate nearby. HSE identified excavations adjacent to some vehicle routes with unsupported vertical faces at risk of collapse, highlighting the need to manage excavation conditions so they remain safe under site traffic arrangements.

HSE Prosecution Link