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#1 Posted : 18 July 2009 19:36:00(UTC)
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Posted By Gerry Marchant
I have been asked to respond to a scenario whilst I am undertaking a desk top exercise and top management have asked for a likely outcome to the scenario...can any of you learned people assist me please

5T/5M boom RTFL overturns on construction site..no one is injured and no damaged is sustained.
Operator reversing slowly and turning slightly with the forks at max reach.
Operator considers himself competent as doing this for past several years but no formal training...discussions took place with sub-contractor prior to commencing work on site and was assured by them that trainiend operator would be aviabable.
Incident reported and HSE have now advised that they will be conducting an investigation
What is the likely outcome to the organisation and under what legisaltion please
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#2 Posted : 18 July 2009 23:08:00(UTC)
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Posted By D H
What is your position or role in this scenario?

Client ? DCMC?

Dave
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#3 Posted : 18 July 2009 23:18:00(UTC)
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Posted By D H
Should have read CDVC
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#4 Posted : 19 July 2009 10:34:00(UTC)
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Posted By Gerry Marchant
DH ....my role in this is as Prinicpal Contractor
Gerry
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#5 Posted : 19 July 2009 12:54:00(UTC)
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Posted By bill strachan1
CDVC??
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#6 Posted : 20 July 2009 07:38:00(UTC)
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Posted By Bob Youel
the outcome can rest purly on the 'brief' that you have and lots of £ gets you the best -this is not a joke!

I have seen good cases get thrown out because one 'brief' was not as good as another and as for justice well!!!
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#7 Posted : 20 July 2009 12:56:00(UTC)
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Posted By Jim Tassell (2)
Lets cut to the story and avoid backpedalling into the nether reaches of CDM theory as this is of general application, not just construction.

1 - you specifically asked the subbie re FLT training.
2 - Subbie gave you a specific response that the driver on your site would be trained.
3 - Driver now turns out to be your original "grandfather" with no traceable training.
4 - We can reasonably assume that lack of training is a valid causative factor in this incident.

Is the subbie's statement re training recorded anywhere and do you have any contractual requirements (of course based on risk assessments) that indicate your expectation? If so, subbie has the biggest problems but you aren't yet totally out of the wood. Following on as part of your due diligence:

Did you ever ask to see the FLT driver's ticket? It's an easy and obvious check. If not, do not pass Go and hit "legal" button! If he produced a ticket then you're into potential forgery, which hits another big "legal" button.

Was there anything about the FLT driver's performance before the incident that might have put a reasonable person on notice that he was not driving properly? In other words, what oversight did you have of your subbies (I hesitate to use the word supervision as it is too baggage-laden)? If there's any evidence at all that he was driving poorly did you take action on it? If not, do not pass Go and pack toothbrush.

Sorry if some may find this a bit flippant but it saves the sanity!

Jim
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#8 Posted : 20 July 2009 13:15:00(UTC)
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Posted By Robert K Lewis
Strictly speaking you have described a telehandler rather than an FLT, which has a mast rather than a boom. A peculiarity of telehandlers is that the definitions of reportable DOs does not cover them per se as they are not an FLT by definition. One needs to very careful in setting up scenarios to avoid these grey areas or time can be lost in side discussions.

Training and your assessment of the competence of the driver would be under the microscope. How did you check the competency of the driver. Was it simply a matter of past experience and no incidents? This leads to your competence management systems and the ability of your directors to manage safety effectively. A fatality could have led to a CM prosecution.

Bob
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#9 Posted : 20 July 2009 13:36:00(UTC)
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Posted By Jim Tassell (2)
Bob

Careful. I'd hate to split hairs on the DO definition but see HSG6 - telescopic materials handlers are included in examples of FLTs. And anyway, as you hint, had there been an accident this arguement would get you nowhere. Anyway in the scenario someone has already sold the pass and told the HSE, so would you dare tell them to go away as it was improperly reported? No, nor would I.

Jim

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#10 Posted : 20 July 2009 15:35:00(UTC)
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Posted By Robert K Lewis
Have been known to in the past if there was no injury. But by then they are on site anyway. I had this discussion back in 1999 with an HSE Principal. The general description is equipment with front mounted assembly for lifting things. A boom is not front mounted and therefore is without the definition! :-) Ergo HSG6 is incorrect. The whitehall drafters are not infallible! :-)

Pedantics is a wonderful thing.

Bob
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