01.11.2006

Bus throws man from platform

A man died around 8:00 am this morning at Wilmslow Road in Rusholme, Manchester, (UK) after his aerial work platform was hit by a double decker bus.

Not only did the bus cause the man to be ejected from the platform, a Genie Z60/34, but he then fell into the path of the bus, which was, it seems, still moving, trapping him underneath it.
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The scene earlier today

A man said to be in his 30s was been arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. Local reports say that that the bus swerved, hit a lamp post and the struck the boom lift which was working on first floor windows.

The Wilmslow Road has been closed southbound from Hathersage Road while the police and Health and Safety Executive investigate.

The police are appealing for any witnesses to contact them.

Vertikal Comment

Once again it would seem that a man has died simply due to the lack of a harness. As our picture shows the boom lift appears virtually unharmed, a harness and short lanyard might have kept the man in the basket, saving his life.

This has been a dreadful year for such incidents, hopefully those responsible for training will use these reports to bring home to potential operators that real people with real families do die from simply not using such equipment on boom lifts.