Home / Real cases / Wedge Group Galvanizing Limited
Crediton, Devon · Bristol Magistrates Court
On 12 October 2021 a lifting chain carrying a roller steel joist weighing nearly three tonnes failed at the company's galvanising site in Crediton, and the beam fell into a galvanising bath. The resulting wave of molten zinc covered a worker. HSE found the chains were damaged and deteriorated, had not received their mandatory regular inspection and were not withdrawn from use, and that the slinging arrangement was incorrect so the load exceeded the chains' safe limit.
Injuries: The worker suffered 40 per cent burns, spent 11 days in intensive care, had 13 operations including skin grafts, and later developed an infection and sepsis that left him with multiple long-term health conditions.
Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (the company pleaded guilty to this). The page also says the company failed to meet the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), under which lifting accessories must be thoroughly examined by a competent person at least every six months.
“This wholly-avoidable incident led to a young man having to endure truly terrible injuries...”
Have a competent person examine lifting chains and slings at the legal intervals, follow the manufacturer's advice on checks before each day's use, withdraw damaged ones, and make sure the risk assessment covers sling configuration.
The machines, packs and quizzes that fit this kind of site.