The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced it will
administer a Crown Censure to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) over the deaths of
three soldiers on a training exercise in the Brecon Beacons in July 2013.
Reservists Edward Maher, James Dunsby and Craig Roberts fell ill
while on a training march. Mr Roberts and Mr Maher died during the exercise,
while Mr Dunsby suffered multiple organ failure (as a result of hyperthermia)
and died on 30 July 2013.
The HSE investigation found a failure to plan, assess, and
manage risks associated with climatic illness during the training. These
failings resulted in the deaths of the three men and heat illness suffered by
10 other on the march.
Despite its Crown status, the MoD is not exempt from its
responsibilities as an employer to reduce the risks to its employees as far as
reasonably practicable. But for Crown immunity, the MoD would have faced
prosecution for the failings identified.
HSE head of operations Neil Craig said: “Specialist military
units rightly need to test rigorously the fitness and resilience of potential
candidates. Health and safety is not about stopping people from doing
dangerous work or being properly prepared for military duties. Military
training is inherently hazardous. However, such testing needs to be managed
effectively. The MoD has a duty to manage the risks during training exercises.
It failed to do so on this occasion.
“Since the incident HSE has worked closely with the MoD to
ensure it has learned lessons on how it can reduce the risk of similar
tragedies occurring in future without compromising or changing the arduous
nature of the essential training and testing they need to provide.”
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