16-Year-Old Severely Injured on Work Experience Placement
A 16-year-old student sustained severe injuries when he became trapped beneath a tractor while undertaking paid work experience
Tom Cutler, in pursuit of practical experience in vehicle repair, was working at Earlcoate Construction & Plant Hire Limited at Folds Farm in the New Forest. He was preparing for a prospective vehicle maintenance course at Sparsholt College.
On August 3, 2021, while operating a tractor down an incline, the vehicle deviated from its path and overturned. Tom was alone in the tractor, which lacked a seat belt. He was ejected from the seat and found his upper leg pinned under the tractor's roof. Fortunately, passers-by discovered him in time to summon assistance. Emergency services arrived, and he was transported to the hospital for treatment.
Tom's father, David Cutler, commented, " Tom was only 16 when this incident happened, and it’s changed his life forever. Had it not been for his own bravery and the amazing work by the emergency services we could have lost him. Tom acted quickly and used his belt as a tourniquet to stem bleeding; he punched out the cab window to check his leg and managed to break off a wing mirror to enable him to turn off the tractor and prevent a fire from fuel that was escaping. He spent a month in hospital and has undergone seven different operations but can’t do the things he used to do. He was a keen mountain biker and cricket player but that has all stopped. He doesn’t sleep properly and is more anxious; he had to put his education on hold for a year and we as a whole family have found it extremely tough.”
An inquiry by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) disclosed that Earlcoate Construction & Plant Hire Limited had neglected to adequately protect Tom. This failure was attributed to inadequate supervision and a lack of proper information, instruction, and training.
HSE offers guidelines for employing young workers, emphasizing the necessity of providing them with adequate information, training, and supervision. On October 16, at Southampton Magistrates' Court, Earlcoate Construction & Plant Hire Limited admitted to violating Regulation 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was ordered to pay a fine of £50,000 and £9,223 in costs.
Following the court proceedings, HSE Inspector Nicola Pinckney remarked, "Tom is lucky the outcome was not worse. This was due to his quick thinking, the fact he was found in time by passers-by and the outstanding work carried out by the emergency services and those in the hospital providing his care. The incident could so easily have been avoided by understanding the risks involved with employing young people. This could have been achieved by carrying out a suitable risk assessment and putting in place appropriate information, instruction, and training for both Tom and those working with him, and most importantly, ensuring adequate supervision was in place to ensure correct control measures and safe working practices were implemented. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards."
HSE's legal prosecution was supported by enforcement lawyer Samantha Wells.