Mechanic seriously injured by falling car while praying at Liverpool garage

Company fined after investigation reveals unsafe working practices led to severe injuries for employee during his break

Mechanic seriously injured by falling car while praying at Liverpool garage
Image: HSE

A mechanic was left with significant injuries after a car fell on him at a garage in Kensington, Liverpool, while he was on a break to pray. The incident occurred on November 23, 2022, at Car Spa and Tyres Ltd. Mohammed Hamad (56) was working as a mechanic and had elevated a vehicle on a two-post lift.

However, neither swivel arm on one of the lifting columns was locked into position, and as Mr. Hamad took his break, the car fell, crushing him underneath.

Mr. Hamad sustained multiple fractures, including a broken leg, three broken bones in his spine, five broken ribs, and a broken pelvis. He spent four months in NHS Aintree Hospital due to his injuries and is now largely dependent on his wife and others for daily tasks, with little prospect of returning to work.

A subsequent investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Car Spa & Tyres Ltd failed to implement a safe system of work or adequately train staff in the proper operation of the lifting equipment.

On June 25, at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court, the company was found guilty of breaching regulation 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Car Spa & Tyres Ltd was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £20,000 in costs.

HSE Inspector David Bellis commented on the seriousness of the incident: “If Mr Hamad had been suitably trained in the use of the two-post lift, the company had a suitable system of work in place and the swivel arms had been positioned correctly and locked into place this incident would have been avoided.” He reiterated that the HSE takes all preventable accidents seriously and will prosecute when necessary.

Source: Health and Safety Executive

7 Comments

  1. Poor chap, but what a S$*%hole workshop !!!

    Reply
  2. Personally if he didn’t know how to use the machinery or have correct training then why go ahead and use a piece of machinery without knowing how to use it,surely this would also be the victims responsibility as he’s used something he hasn’t had proper training on

    Reply
  3. This workshop is on a small estate of similar industrial units. The man should not have been using equipment he was unfamiliar with. His employer will have known about his religion and his need to pray and should have suggested or provided an alternative place for this. I think there’s 50/50 blame here. It was unfair to place all the blame on the employer. No doubt a compensation claim will now follow.

    Reply
  4. Thats unfortunate but why was he praying underneath the car? Could it be that he was praying that supporting pillar wasnt going to fall over! He could have moved 3 ft away and been fine. I also cant believe that the car just fell off the ramp without some force being acted on it!

    Reply
  5. Well it looked like to me Mohammed was living in the garage with a washing machine or tumble dryer as seen in photo I’m only concerned and commenting maybe I’m wrong take a look a photo I’m sure health and safety did hope your ok Mohammed no one deserves that you should have had training you would have at my garage?

    Reply
  6. Like Don said, look at the state of the workshop. That gantry must be against regulations, its got a big bow in the middle. I have also noticed the hydraulic fluid on the two post lift is a tad low and the gas bottle behind the washing machine. Get well soon.

    Reply
  7. The workshop looked in poor condition, why is there a washing machine/dryer in there? And who in their right mind prays under a 2 post lift? I’d say negligence on both parties, both the worker and the company.

    Reply

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