26/11/2010 - Gas company fined over car crash
Southern Gas Networks, the gas transportation company, has been fined over an incident in which a car turned on its side after it hit a metal plate during road works.
The incident occurred in April 2008 on Foreland Road in Bembridge, Isle of Wight, and the driver of the car had to be cut free from the vehicle.
Workers had lifted a large metal road plate using an excavator ready to be removed later.
But a Health and Safety Executive investigation found that the metal plate was left six to eight inches from the ground, to make it easier to be collected, and was protruding around two feet beyond the line of parked cars into oncoming traffic.
When the car hit the metal plate, it flipped onto the side. The driver suffered heavy bruising, and the vehicle was written off.
Southern Gas Networks pleaded guilty to breaching construction regulations, and was fined £20,000. It was also ordered to pay costs of £13,523.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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