A building contractor based in Stockton-on-Tees has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a worker was injured and then trapped for two hours after a ditch collapsed on him.

In November 2008, 44-year-old construction worker John Taylor from Thornaby in Teesside was laying pipes when the trench he was working in collapsed. He suffered bruising to his legs and was trapped under the debris for two hours.

An excavator was being used to help dig the trench – situated on a slope – for the pipes and the HSE investigation into the accident revealed that the driver of the excavator had not received sufficient training for the job.

On Monday (08/03/10) at Darlington Magistrates’ Court, Vickers Construction Limited of Yarm Road in Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in relation to the incident at the Allanbrae site, near Newton Aycliffe in County Durham.

The company was also ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge, which will be spent on services for victims and witnesses.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Dr Dave Shallow, said:

‘Trench collapses are a well-known cause of serious injuries and deaths in the construction industry and this incident could have easily been avoided.

‘The employee using the excavator should have been properly trained and industry guidance – which recommends providing shoring or trench boxes – should have been followed.

‘Companies need to recognise the dangers of excavations and ensure safe systems of work are in place before workers enter excavations.’

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