31.10.2025

Boom lift operator sentenced

A man operating a self-propelled boom lift has pleaded guilty to contravening UK health and safety legislation, by not providing his subordinate colleague with any health and safety instructions or providing any safety equipment, such as a harness, while operating a boom lift.

Leon Chalmers was operating the articulated boom lift while colleague Aeden Brown, 27, repaired cladding on a job in Glasgow, Scotland, in February 2022. While they were working a bus clipped the half elevated riser causing the boom to tip and rock back on two wheels to create a catapult effect, which threw Brown from the platform. Chalmers managed to stay in the platform, even though he was not wearing a harness.

Brown fell five metres onto a car roof and bounced off onto the ground. He suffered a string of injuries, including a fractured wrist, fractures to his pelvis and hip, and a collapsed lung. He remained in hospital for two weeks, during which time surgical plates were fitted around his pelvis and hip. He was later re-admitted to the hospital due to an infection in his hip and now has a pronounced limp and constant hip pain when walking up hills. He has also not worked since the incident due to his state of recovery.

The main contractor on the site, McTaggart Construction, has already pleaded guilty and been fined £215,000 for failing to plan, manage and monitor the construction phase and coordinate matters relating to health and safety.

An investigation concluded that Chalmers had not provided health and safety information to Brown, had not made any attempt to cordon off the machine, and had not provided a harness and lanyard. He also failed to co-operate with the HSE or the investigation and has been ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work/community service and put under supervision for a year.