A significant ruling has been made in the case of a tragic workplace accident involving a demolition worker who lost his life while dismantling a decommissioned gas rig. Veolia Environmental Services (UK) has been fined £3 million after the incident, which resulted in the death of 62-year-old Stephen Picken and serious, life-changing injuries to his colleague, Mark Kumar.
The unfortunate incident occurred in October 2019 at Great Yarmouth’s outer harbour. Picken and Kumar were operating from a cherry picker when a large piece of metal, known as a skirt pile, weighing over 27 tonnes, fell and catapulted them 12 metres to the ground. Despite Mr. Kumar’s survival, the fall left him with severe injuries, while Mr. Picken tragically died at the scene.
An in-depth investigation conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed several critical failings on the part of their employer, Veolia Environmental Services (UK). The investigation highlighted a lack of proper planning and risk assessment for the task at hand. Notably, the company failed to adequately assess the risks associated with the removal of the skirt pile, deeming it a low-risk operation. Consequently, there was no cutting plan or safe system of work in place, which contributed to the tragic outcome.
During the investigation, the HSE identified significant shortcomings in the supervision of the incident. Veolia ES (UK) Limited, based on Pentonville Road in London, admitted to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. At the sentencing hearing held at Ipswich Crown Court, the judge imposed a fine of £3 million on the company and ordered them to pay an additional £60,000 in costs.
David King, an HSE inspector, commented on the case, emphasizing the crucial need for stringent controls in the demolition of large, hazardous structures within the industry. He stated, “This incident, in an emerging industry, highlights the level of controls required to safely demolish what are large, dangerous structures. Veolia did not meet these standards and tragically one life was lost, and another forever changed.”
Inspector King further reinforced the HSE’s commitment to protecting people and places, asserting that organizations that endanger their employees working conditions by failing to meet required safety standards would face strict enforcement actions. “The Health and Safety Executive’s mission is to protect people and places. Organisations that endanger their employees by failing to meet the required standards should be aware that we will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action,” he added.
The Workers Union Says…
“The ruling serves as a stark reminder of the importance of comprehensive risk assessments and planning in the workplace, particularly in high-risk industries. Employers must ensure that every aspect of their operations is meticulously evaluated to prevent such tragic incidents from occurring.”
