Inquest: Health and safety document not received until after fatal incident
THE lead organiser of the country fair where a grandmother was fatally injured by a runaway horse and carriage did not receive a health and safety statement from the owner of the horse until after the event.
John Smithson, parks development manager for St Edmundsbury Borough Council, was emailed the document by Duncan Drye, who operated horse and carraige rides at Nowton Park Country Fair on June 19.
One of his horses Lucas bolted into crowds of people and struck Carole Bullett, 57, of Clark Walk, Bury St Edmunds, who died the following day.
An inquest into her death heard that when Mr Smithson received the health and safety statement there was no risk assessment for the horse and carriage rides.
He admitted that ‘it would have been best practice to have the document in place on the day’.
Mr Smithson explained that he had completed a ‘dynamic’ verbal risk assessment at the park with Mr Drye before the event.
However, the hearding was told that Mr Smithson ‘did not ask for any further information about his qualifications regarding horse and carriage operation’.
He said: “Based on my knowledge of him I assumed he was a competent and responsible person.”
When asked by the coroner Dr Peter Dean what had been learnt from the incident regarding health and safety and future planning of such events, Mr Smithson said they had ‘become more rigorous’ with how they deal with paperwork.
People taking part in events are now asked to include information about their past experience, qualifications and organisations affiliated to.
All risk assessments have to be submitted prior to the hsow and will be read by a member of the council’s team.
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Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Wednesday 22 May 2013
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