
A Kent plant company has been fined £175,000 after an excavator attachment fell onto one of its workers and killed him as it was being loaded onto a lorry.
The demolition grab fell onto 24-year-old Liam McArdle at Erith Plant Services’ workshop in Swanscombe on 21 September 2021, according to the health and safety executive (HSE).
The fatal accident prompted an investigation, which found the firm had failed to ensure there was a safe method of work while loading and unloading excavators and attachments.
The company failed to ensure steps were taken to ensure HGV drivers fully engaged the quick hitch when moving attachments during loading and unloading activities.
There was also no defined segregation between vehicles and pedestrians at its Eastern Quarry workshop, nor was there suitable supervision of work activities.
In a victim personal statement, McCardle’s dad Declan said: “The pain of losing my son has been and will continue to be unbearable. Liam worked hard and wanted to learn. He wanted to follow in my footsteps, and I was proud of the person he was becoming.”
The company was fined £175,000 and ordered to pay £37,804 in costs at Woolwich Crown Court.
HSE inspector Joanne Williams said: “This tragic death serves as an important reminder that workers need to be trained and that there is always the potential for an attachment to fall during the operation of excavators. Employers need to ensure that work practices are maintained to keep workers away from the danger areas during lifting activities.”