07.09.2006

St. Annes platform accident update

The workman who died when the access platform he was working in toppled over, has been named as Shaun Mangam, 43, of Rothay Avenue, Fleetwood. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Mangam's colleague, Ben Carlisle, of Nutter Road, Thornton Cleveleys, is in a stable condition in hospital.

The accident which happened in St Annes, at 11.30 am on Monday is being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive, which has now released the lift back to owner UK Platforms.
The HSE has, we understand, given the machine the all clear, confirming that it was in full working order, with all of its documentation present and correct.

Further details are also emerging from witnesses, through the local media. It seems that the men had set the machine up on outriggers but had not fully lowered one of them. If the reports are accurate it appears that Mangam was wearing a harness, while Carlisle was not. The nature of a scissor tip over, can allow a person to jump or be thrown clear of the machine or even grab onto an nearby structure.


Industry recomendations are that harnesses should not be worn on scissor lifts, except in special cases.