Difficult to see how they could feasibly plea any different, especially as they had already admitted responsibility previously.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told the court that while the ride was mechanically safe, there were not systems in place to tell staff when a static ride was on the tracks. A static train was shown on the computer, the court heard, but a member of staff did not see it and overrode the computer." If the Risk assessment was suitable & sufficient, I'm a dutchman (other nationalities are available). This is elementary hierarchy of control stuff

The key information on the BBC link is that ".............A static train was shown on the computer, the court heard, but a member of staff did not see it and overrode the computer" It is my understanding that the term "human error" in its proper safety context need not mean that the "individual human " is allocated blame. Human Error is a well recognised risk factor, especially for complex computer controlled systems and training , override protocols etc are compiled taking the specifics of human error risks into account. It is fairly obvious that the protocol to override the system that caused the accident was deficient and the ride was permitted to re-open after a revised protocol requiring a more senior person to override the system after ensuring several checks was agreed to etc. http://www.hse.gov.uk/hu...ors/topics/humanfail.htm Extract:- Everyone can make errors no matter how well trained and motivated they are. However in the workplace, the consequences of such human failure can be severe. Analysis of accidents and incidents shows that human failure contributes to almost all accidents and exposures to substances hazardous to health. Many major accidents e.g. Texas City, Piper Alpha, Chernobyl, were initiated by human failure. In order to avoid accidents and ill-health, companies need to manage human failure as robustly as the technical and engineering measures they use for that purpose. The challenge is to develop error tolerant systems and to prevent errors from initiating; to manage human error proactively it should be addressed as part of the risk assessment process, where: Significant potential human errors PDF are identified, Those factors that make errors more or less likely are identified (such as poor design, distraction, time pressure, workload, competence, morale, noise levels and communication systems) - Performance Influencing Factors (PIFs) PDF Control measures are devised and implemented, preferably by redesign of the task or equipment

I was reading my F in law Daily Mail today about this. It's amazing how pro h&s they can be when it suits