HSE warns construction companies about the dangers of dismantling heavy equipment

Engineering firm Dawson-Wam has been fined £10,000 for breaching health and safety regulations which led to an employee death.

John Walsh was killed in September 2002 when the auger drive unit of a piling rig he was trying to dismantle flew off its stand and struck him.

The engineering company had been contracted to carry out piling around the perimeter of the site to form a retaining wall, enabling the site to be excavated for the construction of a new office block.

Dawson-Wam Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £76,128.68 at Croydon Crown Court.

Following the case the HSE is warning construction companies of the dangers of using improvised procedures when dismantling heavy machinery.

HSE inspector Alec Ferguson, said: "Attempting to dismantle heavy equipment in a way not recommended by its manufacturer is likely to be a very risky enterprise which should only be embarked on when absolutely necessary and, even then, only following very careful planning of a truly safe system of work."

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