17 October Fatality highlights the importance of cold weather preparedness A recent investigation from the HSE saw Lanes Group Limited fined £800k following the tragic death of a drainage engineer. The employee was critically injured when a frozen jet hose exploded and struck him in the face. He was placed on life support, which was switched off just after Christmas in 2022, leaving behind a wife and three children. This prosecution serves as a reminder that everyone deserves to get home safely at the end of the working day. As winter draws in over the coming months, it is crucial to look at workplace procedures, adapt them for cold weather, and ensure any considerations are communicated clearly across the board. The incident In December 2022, Miguel Galvao, a drainage engineer, was involved in a fatal workplace incident involving a high-pressure jetting hose. On the morning of the incident, temperatures were reported to be between -3 to -4 degrees Celsius. He was priming the jetting system, when a pressure release caused the hose to whip up violently and strike him in the face. The cause of the pressure release was understood to be due to a build up of ice in the hose pipe. He was placed on life support, in an induced coma. Following two weeks in hospital, doctors advised that there was nothing further that could be done. His wife made the decision to wait until after Christmas to turn off his life support. The prosecution Lanes Group Limited pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was fined £800,000 and ordered to pay additional costs and a victim surcharge. This was reduced from £1.2 million due to an early guilty plea. The failings identified in the investigation were: No safe systems of work: The company lacked a formal procedure, detailing how to safely prime jetting equipment Failure to keep equipment in working order: Multiple jetting vehicles within the company had defective vices Weak control monitoring: Physical safety measures were not properly checked or monitored Insufficient training: Sufficient information, training and supervision were not provided Whilst the investigation was underway, the Water Jetting Association also released a safety alert to draw further attention to the risks of frost and ice during periods of cold weather. “This absolutely tragic incident further demonstrates the need for companies to ensure there are suitable safe systems of work for non-routine work, such as work in freezing temperatures where machines are at risk of freezing.” – Marcus Pope, HSE inspector Be prepared As temperatures drop, it is vital to re-assess our health and safety measures. Cold weather brings added risks, such as frost, ice, snow, or shorter daylight hours, which can all impact our safety at work. This incident serves as a reminder to be proactive: Review and update risk assessments and cold weather procedures, ensuring control measures are suitable and robust Check your equipment is ready for cold weather and suitable for use in freezing conditions Refresh employee training around cold weather Communicate updated safety guidance clearly and consistently Staying prepared and keeping your team informed are key to preventing incidents and fostering a strong health and safety culture. If you have any questions about cold weather readiness or procedure updates, reach out to LRB Consulting Ltd for further support.