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Demolition worker fined for injuring colleague

16 Jan 12 A demolition worker from Croydon has been prosecuted for injuring a colleague while trying to operate plant he was not qualified for.

Devon Stoner, 44, of Whitehorse Road in Croydon was prosecuted by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) after the incident last year when he was carrying out demolition work for Sloane Demolition Ltd in Kent.

Maidstone Magistrates' Court heard that on 20 January 2011 five employees, including the defendant were sorting through rubble and reclaiming bricks at the former Leybourne Grange Hospital in West Malling, Kent. The two-storey building was being demolished with the use of a 13t excavator.

Workers were putting bricks from a demolished chimney breast into the bucket of the excavator which the operator had left switched off but with the keys left in it.

Mr Stoner climbed into the excavator and began to move it around the site. Mr Stoner was not trained or authorised by Sloane Demolition Ltd to operate this type of plant and he was unable to control it. He accidentally knocked a wall down, trapping a colleague. The victim suffered serious injuries to his left leg, a broken right ankle and a shattered shin. He has had to have a steel plate inserted into his right shin and ankle.

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HSE inspector David Fussell said: "Workplace transport is the second biggest cause of fatal accidents, and it is extremely fortunate that this incident didn't result in a death. Nationally around 80 people are killed every year, and there are more than 1,500 major injuries.

"The fact that serious injury or death can result from the use of machinery and vehicles makes it all the more essential for employees to have respect for, and follow the safe working procedures for workplace transport that have been put in place by their employers.

"The HSE will not tolerate employees exposing their colleagues or members of the public to unacceptable risks due to their work practices. There is simply no excuse for employees to plead ignorance of good health and safety practice."

Devon Stoner pleaded guilty to breaching section 7(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was ordered to undertake 120 hours community service and pay £500 in costs.

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