Elderly woman hit by reversing street sweeper

Prosecutions and Claims |
03.03.2008

A 73-year old woman spent four weeks in hospital after she was struck by a reversing street-sweeping vehicle, Brighton magistrates have heard.

The woman was hit by the reversing sweeper in March 2007 in Preston Park, Brighton. She suffered crush injuries to her leg and underwent four operations.

An HSE inspection revealed Brighton and Hove City Council's risk assessments were inadequate.

"Had the council undertaken a thorough risk assessment it would have concluded that there were a number of low-cost simple steps it could have taken to reduce the risks to members of the public," said HSE inspector Paul Vinnicombe.

"These could have included the use of signs, cones or barriers to separate the area from the public or fitting a rear-view CCTV camera to the vehicle."

Brighton and Hove Council pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act for its failure to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of non-employees.

On 28 February Brighton magistrates fined the council £7,500 plus £3,763 costs.