RED STRIPE BULLETIN | Fall from height resulting in broken bone in lower leg and a lost time injury.

1. Health & Safety Red Stripe Bulletin
For Information
026a/16/LPB
ELECTRICIAN FALLS INTO EXCAVATION - 42 " PIPE
MILL HARTLEPOOL
HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT ON 21/02/2016
Lost time injury resulting from a fall from height.
Actual Loss
Lost Time Injury
Potential Loss
Lost Time Injury
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2. What Happened
IP was working as part of a team installing new electrical panels in the column line 'M' area adjacent
to End Burner No1 in Bay 2 of the 42" Pipe Mill. In this area there were a number of newly concreted
excavations. All of these were cordoned off using orange plastic mesh fencing secured by metal
posts.
The electrical panels needed to be moved west from central area of the bay (where they were being
stored) to the column line where they were to be installed. OHC No7 and a local Pillar Jib crane were
both used to do this. The temporary plastic mesh fencing needed to be lowered for the duration of
this task to allow the team to walk through the area in order to guide the panels.
Prior to the lift, as the IP walked towards the Pillar Jib crane in the area his left leg went into the 1
metre deep hole usually used for the End Burner skip. His colleagues helped him up. He had suffered
an injury to his right ankle. It was discovered later he had broken a bone in his lower leg, resulting in
lost time.
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3. Conclusions
Temporary orange mesh barriers installed in the area to guard the open edges were missing at the
time of the accident. These were lowered by the working party to manouvre the panels.
The IP has admitted not looking where he was going at the time of the accident; he was looking over
to the Pillar Jib crane.
A two minute risk assessment process was in place, however this wasn’t completed before the job
started.
The work method required the mesh barriers to be lowered; no consideration was made to any
additional hazards this might present.
The local actions identified were:
Immediate reinstatement of the mesh barriers. In addition the open pits in this area were covered
over following this incident to eradicate any open edges that may result in a fall, as a temporary
measure prior to equipment being installed.
Ensure the risks for all non-routine tasks are properly assessed before commencing work and/or
again if the work methodology changes.
For further information on this incident contact Chris Skidmore on +44 (0) 1429
527346.
Circulation Date 14/03/2016
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4. Site Actions Following Review Alert
026a/16/LPB
Action Who? When?
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10
Safety Contact Information
Contact Leader Date
Team Members
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