Safety is a paramount concern in the construction industry, where hazards are commonplace. Proper planning and risk assessment are critical to ensuring the safety of workers and the public.
Incident 1: March 2018
The first incident occurred on March 28, 2018, during overnight roadworks between junctions 16 and 18 of the M6 near Sandbach in Cheshire. The workers were engaged in a task that involved the use of heavy machinery. Unfortunately, due to inadequate planning and risk assessment, three Kier workers accidentally struck and severed an 11kV overhead power line.
The severed power line, carrying a high voltage of electricity, landed on the M6 motorway and in a nearby field. This posed a significant risk to the workers on site and the passing vehicles. One worker was seen running away from the scene, narrowly avoiding being hit by the falling power line.
Despite the severity of the incident, Kier failed to immediately inform Scottish Power, the electricity distribution company. This delay resulted in the cable being re-energized multiple times while it was lying on the motorway, posing a significant risk to the vehicles passing by.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that Kier had inadequately planned the work. The vehicle used in the incident was unsuitable for the task, despite the availability of more suitable vehicles. Furthermore, there was no task-specific risk assessment available for the workers, which could have identified the overhead power line as a potential hazard.
Incident 2: January 2019
The second incident occurred less than a year later, on January 21, 2019, during overnight roadworks at the same location. A Kier tractor, again involved in the roadworks, struck an overhead cable. This impact led to an unmarked 11kV power line being hit and snapped by an oncoming lorry.
The workers on site were unaware of the overhead hazards, indicating a lack of awareness training and inadequate safety briefings. Similar to the first incident, there was a lack of adequate planning from Kier and no task-specific risk assessment available for the workers.
Consequences and Lessons Learned
As a result of these incidents, Kier Group was fined £4.4 million and ordered to pay costs of £80,759 at Manchester Crown Court. The HSE inspector, Mike Lisle, stated that the fine reflected the seriousness of the failures and that the company’s failure to plan the work properly and provide an adequate risk assessment put its workers and those using the motorway in significant danger.
These incidents serve as a stark reminder of the importance of proper planning and risk assessment in ensuring safety. They highlight the potential consequences of neglecting these crucial steps, not just in terms of financial penalties, but more importantly, in terms of the potential risk to human life. It is hoped that these incidents will serve as a wake-up call for the industry, emphasizing the need for rigorous safety measures and protocols.
In conclusion, these incidents involving Kier Group underscore the critical importance of safety measures in the construction industry. They serve as a stark reminder of the potential consequences when safety measures are neglected. It is hoped that these incidents will serve as a wake-up call for the industry, emphasizing the need for rigorous safety measures and protocols. The safety of workers and the public should always be the top priority in any construction project.
