Fairground death: £47,000 fine
Health and Safety Executive v Stevens Amusements Ltd (2016) Northampton Crown Court, December 5
Statutory reference: s 3 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 (HSWA).
Stevens Amusements Ltd, a fairground company, has been fined following the death of a worker.
The facts
In April 2011 Michael O’Brian was working on the setting up of a fun fair at Wellingborough. A Twister ride was being manoeuvred into position from an HGV vehicle. O’Brian was run over and suffered fatal crush injuries.
A banksman was guiding the vehicle but he was on is passenger side. The deceased was found on the driver’s side.
Inadequate arrangements were in place to segregate people from moving vehicles.
The decision
Stevens Amusements Ltd was fined £47,000 plus £82,000 costs for a breach of s.3, HSWA.
An HSE inspector commented after the case that travelling fairs visit a large number of sites. A specific assessment of the risks must be made at each site before beginning hazardous activities