12.11.2019

Aerial lift fatality

We have received news of a fatal incident with an aerial work platform in St Helens, UK, on Friday.

Firm details are scarce, the Merseyside fire and rescue service was first on the scene and said that a man had died following an incident with a ‘cherry picker’.

A police statement followed a little later, saying: “Merseyside Police can confirm that a 31 year old man was injured on Friday, November 8th in an incident at an industrial premises in St Helens and that he has subsequently died.”

"The emergency services were called to the premises on Merton Street at around 4.15pm, following reports that a man had been injured at the site. He was later pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene. An investigation into the circumstances of his death is being carried out by detectives and the Health and Safety Executive.”

"The man’s next of kin have been informed and a police family liaison officer is providing them with support at this difficult time."

While we have not been able to confirm 100 percent that the incident did involve an aerial work platform, all the information we have received does indicate that it was.
We will update this item as and when we learn more.

UPDATE

The incident did indeed involve an aerial work platform, we understand that it was a 2006 Niftylift boom, and that it was badly maintained and should not have been put into service before several serious faults were re[paird. The deceased has also been named as Uldis Senkans, 30, whjo was working on a new building at the CEW recycling centre for his employer steel erector and building company RM Gibbons who also owned the boom lift.