CONFINED SPACES – Managers Jailed After Two Workers Die Inside Haulage Tank
Gillilan Leivers of Greenfields Ltd. has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for gross negligence manslaughter, her husband company Managing Director sentenced to 20 months, and the company fined £2million following the deaths of two workers in 2016. Nathan Walker (19) and Gavin Rawson (35) were overcome with toxic fumes attempting to clean a haulage tank. Gavin tried to give assistance to Nathan after he got into difficulties, then also collapsed in the tank. An investigation found that the Newark based firm had no procedures in place to ensure the cleaning process was undertaken safely, nor were yard workers informed about the risks. The working method of entering a tank to clean it had not been properly risk assessed, and there was no method statement for entering the tanker or rescuing anyone in the event of an incident.
What you need to do?
- Avoid entry into confined spaces – do the work from outside.
- If entry cannot be avoided carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and;
- put in place and follow a safe system of work and;
- have in place adequate emergency arrangements before the work starts.
Author: Rachel Herd, Health & Safety Advisor at Howarths
If you would like further information on this matter or require any other health and safety support, please contact the Health and Safety Team on 01274 864999.
