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American Airlines fined over worker's amputated leg
A major airline has been punished after one of its employees was forced to have part of his right leg amputated following an incident at Heathrow Airport.
The 45-year-old ground support worker was preparing a plane at Terminal 3 on November 11th 2008 when he was hit by a reversing ‘pushback tug’.
After knocking the man to the floor, the 70-tonne vehicle ran over his right leg, fracturing his right ankle and left heel and eventually necessitating the amputation.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that the tug did not have reversing lights or an audible alarm, despite the incident occurring at night.
The man’s employer, American Airlines, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 24 and 28(f) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined £70,000 and ordered to pay costs of £10,581.25.
“By failing to identify the problems with this tug over many years, the company fell well below the expected standard of safety management for a major international airline,” said HSE inspector John Crookes.
American Airlines is the world’s second-largest carrier at present, behind Delta Air Lines.
Posted by Ben Alexander
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