Fairground operator fined over maintenance worker death

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a fairground in Southport after the death of a maintenance worker.

Pleasureland were fined £95,000 and ordered to pay £50,000 costs at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety etc Act 1974 and Regulation 3(1)(a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

On 25 August 2004, 59 year old William John Birchall was lubricating the Skyride, a chair lift style cable ride, at the amusement park and became entangled in the moving machinery. When he started to get into difficulty and needed the ride to be immediately stopped, he was unable to contact his colleague at the controls 200 metres away because his radio was out of reach.

“This case graphically illustrates that companies should ensure that safe working systems are in place for the safety of all their employees.

HSE Inspector Charles Cottle

HSE Inspector Charles Cottle said: ‘This was a terrible tragedy that could have been avoided had the correct procedures been in place. This case graphically illustrates that companies should ensure that safe working systems are in place for the safety of all their employees. Managers should ask themselves three questions – Do you know where maintenance staff go to do their work? What do they do when they get there? Are they safe while they are doing it?

He added: ‘With answers to these questions, companies are able to carry out a suitable assessment of the risk and put in place safe procedures for carrying out maintenance work. After the accident a much improved access was provided for the maintenance of the ride, an automatic lubrication system was installed and a fixed telephone provided to improve communications. Had these measures already been in place, they would have vastly reduced the risk of accident.’

The Pleasureland amusement park has subsequently closed.