Coleman & Company post statement on crusher incident verdict

Following their court appearance last Thursday with regard to an accident on a crusher at their Meridan Quarry facility, Coleman & Company have released a statement detailing the unfortunate incident and outlines the steps the company has taken as a direct result of this incident to further enhance their robust Health and Safety procedures.

It's also important to point out that their Aggregates Quarry is run as a division of Coleman & Company Limited and is totally independent of their core specialist demolition activities.

You can read the statement in full at the Coleman & Company website.

Excavator operator's mistake costs teenager his arm

At the age of 19 Thomas Bird lost his right arm while working as a labourer for UK Demolition Services on the old Grand Cinema in Cambridgeshire town centre. It was an accident that could have easily been avoided.

Bird's arm was crushed when an unmanned excavator swung around the selector grab pinning his arm. Bird was airlifted to hospital, but later had to have his arm amputated below the elbow.

The HSE investigated and found the excavator operator to be at fault. On leaving the machine he had not switched off the ignition. The side arm was lifted, but as he exited the excavator his coat managed to pull the side arm back down. The power was engaged and the grab swung.

The accident has cost UK Demolition Services £8,000 for two safety breaches and a further £3,500 in costs.

Source: Construction Enquirer

Wooldridge Group boss killed in helicopter crash

We are sad to report that Ian Woolridge, boss of Surrey demolition contractor Woolridge Group has been killed in a tragic accident.

While travelling on a helicopter with a close friend of the Prince of Wales, the craft came down in the Mourne Mountains killing both passengers and the pilot. Ian was only 52 years of age.

According to Construction Enquirer:

He ran the £40m turnover Surrey-based Wooldridge Group with his brother Graham. The firm, a member of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors, employs around 300 and runs a fleet of more than 400 machines.

The business has operated as a demolition, land remediation and construction company for more than 30 years, covering jobs from the expansion of facilities at the royal polo club to demolition works at the prestigious One Hyde Park development in London.

Our thoughts of with Ian's family and friends at this difficult time.

Source: NFDC