A workplace accident has been captured on CCTV, showing the moment a welder suffered a crushing injury.
On the 18th of October 2022, an incident at Pallion Shipyard in Sunderland left David Vinsome with multiple rib fractures and internal injuries, including a burst abdominal wall. The Health and Safety Executive has shared the footage in its corresponding article.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out an investigation, after 37-year-old David from North Shields was crushed between an excavation bucket and a fabrication table. As a result of the investigation, Midland Steel Traders Ltd has received a fine of £100,000.
When the incident occurred, a large excavation bucket was being rotated using both an overhead gantry crane and a forklift truck. Whilst attempting to attach the bucket to the overhead chains, the forklift truck began to lift the bucket without knowing that David was standing behind it. As a result, David was crushed.
David spent nine days in hospital as a result, and here is his victim personal statement:
“When I did come home, I was in bed for about a month before I tried to get down the stairs. My partner is a NHS nurse, so she helped a lot.
“I am still suffering a lot of pain with my shoulder. I have a daughter and I cannot do the school run anymore or take her out for meals or ice cream.
“I am worried about getting back to work. I don’t know when that will be or how I will manage. I don’t think I will go back to welding.”
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation concluded that Midland Steel Traders Ltd had failed to ensure that the job had been properly planned by a competent person, or executed safely.
It was also established that no safe system of work had been set in place for this task. This resulted in a communication breakdown between the team members involved in carrying out the manoeuvre.
Matthew Dundas, The HSE inspector, said:
“Lifting operations can often put people at great risk, as well as incurring great costs when they go wrong.
“It is therefore important to properly resource, plan and organise lifting operations so they are carried out in a safe manner.
“Had that been done in this case then Mr Vinsome wouldn’t have been so seriously injured.
“HSE provides detailed guidance on lifting operations including the importance on how they should be properly resourced, planned and organised, to enable them to be carried out in a safe manner.”
Midland Steel Traders Ltd, Portobello Ind Est, Shadon Way, Chester le Street, pleaded guilty to breaching the Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
The firm received a fine of £100,000 and told to pay £4,916 costs at Newcastle Magistrates Court on the 13th of February 2025.
Further reading
Accidents at work – Oakwood Solicitors
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Paul McMullan is Head of the Employers' and Public Liability Department and joined Oakwood Solicitors in 2010. Paul represents his clients in a wide range of cases, including complex claims and catas…
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