As we all know health and safety must be assessed on a site specific basis. Security of open excavations has to take account of the risks of pedestrians and vehicles entering the excavation. A recent court case has higlighted how inadequate assessment of these risks can lead to serious consequences 
with a Container Terminal being fined for a worker inadvertently driving his straddle carrier into a large excavation at the docks. Whilst there was some signage, apparently, according to the HSE press release, looking down from his cab, the driver did not see the road cones, small flashing lights or the ticker tape around the excavation because it was dark and the weather conditions were poor. The straddle carrier, a vehicle used in the port terminal for stacking and moving freight shipping containers, toppled over and the worker suffered life changing injuries. To read the whole of this press release please go to http://press.hse.gov.uk/2017/container-terminal-in-court-after-worker-injured/?ebul=hsegen&cr=2/22-feb-17.
