Boom Lift Operator Sentenced After MEWP Incident in Glasgow

30-Second Takeaway

A boom lift operator has been sentenced after pleading guilty to breaching UK health and safety legislation following a serious MEWP incident in Glasgow that left a colleague with life-altering injuries. The operator failed to provide safety instructions, exclusion controls, or fall-protection equipment while working at height. The incident occurred in February 2022 when a bus struck the boom lift, catapulting the worker from the platform.

Incident Overview

A self-propelled articulated boom lift incident in Glasgow, Scotland, in February 2022 has resulted in a criminal conviction and sentencing.

Leon Chalmers, who was operating the boom lift, pleaded guilty to contravening UK health and safety legislation after failing to protect or instruct his colleague, Aeden Brown (27), who was working from the platform repairing cladding.

What Happened

While Brown was working at height from the platform:

• The boom lift was partially elevated

• A bus clipped the half-raised riser

• The impact caused the boom lift to tip and rock back onto two wheels

• This created a catapult effect, ejecting Brown from the platform

Chalmers remained in the platform, despite not wearing a harness himself.

Injuries Sustained

Brown fell approximately five metres, landing first on a car roof before striking the ground.

He sustained multiple serious injuries, including:

• Fractured wrist

• Fractures to the pelvis and hip

• Collapsed lung

He remained in hospital for two weeks, during which:

• Surgical plates were fitted around his pelvis and hip

He was later re-admitted due to a hip infection and now:

• Walks with a pronounced limp

• Experiences constant hip pain, especially on inclines

• Has not returned to work since the incident

Investigation Findings

The investigation concluded that Leon Chalmers:

• Failed to provide any health and safety instructions

• Did not cordon off or control traffic around the boom lift

• Failed to provide a harness and lanyard

• Did not cooperate with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation

These failures directly contributed to the severity of the incident.

Legal Outcome

Chalmers pleaded guilty and was sentenced to:

• 150 hours of unpaid work / community service

• One year of supervision

The main contractor, McTaggart Construction, had already pleaded guilty to separate offences and was fined £215,000 for failing to:

• Plan, manage, and monitor the construction phase

• Coordinate health and safety matters on site

Why Incidents Like This Happen

MEWP incidents involving vehicle strikes often occur when:

• Traffic is not properly segregated

• Platforms are operated in live traffic environments

• Fall protection is not used

• Operators lack authority, training, or understanding of risk

Even low-speed vehicle contact can generate enough force to destabilise a MEWP.

Industry Reminder

MEWP platforms offer no forgiveness when struck or destabilised. The absence of fall protection turns a survivable incident into a life-altering one.

This case is a stark reminder that individual operators and principal contractors can both face prosecution when basic safety controls are ignored.

Editorial Note

Crane Hub Global reports on incidents, prosecutions, and enforcement actions to support industry learning and prevention. This article is based on confirmed court findings and investigation outcomes.

How This Incident Could Have Been Prevented

Mandatory Fall Protection

Harnesses and lanyards should be mandatory when working from boom-type MEWPs.

Traffic and Exclusion Control

Working near live roads requires physical barriers, traffic management, or lane closures.

Operator Responsibility

MEWP operators have a duty to protect everyone on the platform, not just themselves.

Site-Level Oversight

Principal contractors must ensure MEWP operations are properly planned and monitored.

Stop-Work Authority

Any unsafe condition, particularly vehicle proximity should trigger an immediate stop.