An accident at Heathrow Airport wherein a maintenance worker died due to serious head injury sustained at work, lead to an investigation and subsequent prosecution of the airport services company by the Health and Safety Executive. The HSE also issued warning to other such motor vehicles repairing companies to ensure use of proper and adequate equipment and well maintained vehicles.

Aviance UK Ltd. major airport services company was found guilty of breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974. The company pleaded guilty for the same at the City of London Magistrates‘ Court on twenty seventh November 2009. The Central Criminal court (old Bailey) ordered a fine of £90,000 and £18,800 against costs.

The tragic incident occurred on 25th March. Mohammad Taj a specialist of vehicle maintenance was working on a baggage tug, a vehicle used to pull baggage trolleys near Heathrow Airport Terminal one. For purposes of repair the vehicle was lifted up, sixty centimetres in the air. This was done with the support of a single trolley jack. During the repair work, Mohammad Taj was underneath the tug. The trolley jack supporting the vehicle shifted backwards dropping the tug on Mohammad Taj. He died from the serious head injuries he sustained at the site of the accident.

The investigation conducted by HSE showed that the maintenance van of Aviance UK had only a trolley jack without the axle stands or any other alternative means of support. HSE has warned other such companies to refrain from such negligence which compromises with worker safety.

Workplace Law Training & Consulting is equipped to provide professionally accredited training in key areas of workplace law and practice. Accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (see IOSH training course) to deliver internationally recognised health and safety courses to help organisations comply with the law and manage people in the workplace.

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