The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning plant hire companies to ensure their vehicles are supplied in a safe condition after a Treharris company were prosecuted for hiring out an excavator without suitable rollover protection, and for failing to carry out pre- and post-hire checks on equipment and hirers.

Astra Plant Ltd of Heol Fawr, Nelson, Treharris, pleaded guilty at Aberdare Magistrates' Court, to charges under section 6 (1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in that they failed to ensure that mechanical equipment provided under a hire contract was safe for use. Additionally, they also pleaded guilty to a charge under section 6 (1) (c) in that they supplied Mr Kidd without adequate information in relation to the use of the excavator that detailed the conditions necessary to ensure that the excavator would be safely by Mr Kidd. The company were fined a total of £2,000 and ordered to pay £6,356.55 costs

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The lack of suitable protection came to light when farmer Stephen Kidd from Ystrad Mynach, who had hired the excavator, rolled it over as he tried to level some uneven land on his property in July 2006. He was unable to jump clear as the machine rolled, trapping his leg underneath it for 40 minutes before being released by emergency services. He suffered crush injuries to his foot and ankle.

An investigation carried out after the incident showed that no checks had been made by Astra Plant Ltd to ensure that Mr Kidd was suitably trained to operate the machine before allowing him to hire it.

(CD/NS)