falls from aqueduct - whose fault?

[saaby93]

Guy clambers onto outside of aqueduct railing - grabs upright that's not supposed to take his weight? it giives way and he plunges to the ground
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-47452373
It's fit for its purpose as an upright, should it be strong enough for someone to hold onto

[av185]

The stick test never fails lol.

[anonymous-user]

If the structure wasn't up to the job of carrying the design/SWL, then clearly, that's a problem, and I'll possibly get stick for being insensitive here, however:

"Mr McDowell's mother, Samantha McDowell, said she knew her son's actions had been "foolhardy," but claimed "Kris or any other person should not be allowed to get through the gap".

She said she and the family found the death "unbearable" because it "could have been avoided".

She added: "The fact is, if the bar hadn't given way Kris would still be here today."

Mr Gittins told Mr McDowell's family and friends he wanted to ensure matters were thoroughly examined."

It could definitely have been avoided. Stay on the right side of the railings.

[bristolbaron]

I think the focus of the issue should be on how he was able to “squeeze through” the bars to get to the outside. Had he climbed over, that’s totally on him, but if he could squeeze through at a point with a drop, a young child could perhaps slip through with relative ease?
The expected weight load of each upright is fairly irrelevant, beyond not being able to be pushed to breaking point from the right side.

[Feirny]

Darwinism. His own fault.

[Cold]

He was 18. He should have known better.

[dudleybloke]

His own fault.

[phil y]

bristolbaron said:

I think the focus of the issue should be on how he was able to “squeeze through” the bars to get to the outside. Had he climbed over, that’s totally on him, but if he could squeeze through at a point with a drop, a young child could perhaps slip through with relative ease?

We went the other week, after crossing over and coming back, I discovered my 5 year old fits easily through the railing gap.

[untakenname]

Reading the thread before clicking on the link I assumed it was a child who had slipped through not an adult.
As an adult the guy should have known better and there's no one else to blame.
Shame they don't put a picture up of the equipment so it can be judged.

[Ed.]

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-48308146

This later report paints a different picture, the railings were not faulty.
They were presumably correct when installed but the current standards require a smaller gap.

[InitialDave]

If he'd been leaning on the railing and it'd given way, yes, I'd agree it's not good enough. But they shouldn't be expected to have an adult man hanging off individual uprights.

Also, are the railings original/period fittings? If they are, I'd say they actively shouldn't be messed about with other than essential repair/maintenance work, even if they're not as good a safety feature as they could be.

[bitchstewie]

InitialDave said:

If he'd been leaning on the railing and it'd given way, yes, I'd agree it's not good enough. But they shouldn't be expected to have an adult man hanging off individual uprights.

Also, are the railings original/period fittings? If they are, I'd say they actively shouldn't be messed about with other than essential repair/maintenance work, even if they're not as good a safety feature as they could be.

Kind of where I am from what I've read and what I think/understand happened.

The gap between railings may be a concern, that's one for the professionals, but I'm not sure you can be expected to legislate for someone doing such a daft and unexpected thing as the dead chap did can you?

[TeamD]

bhstewie said:

InitialDave said:

If he'd been leaning on the railing and it'd given way, yes, I'd agree it's not good enough. But they shouldn't be expected to have an adult man hanging off individual uprights.

Also, are the railings original/period fittings? If they are, I'd say they actively shouldn't be messed about with other than essential repair/maintenance work, even if they're not as good a safety feature as they could be.

Kind of where I am from what I've read and what I think/understand happened.

The gap between railings may be a concern, that's one for the professionals, but I'm not sure you can be expected to legislate for someone doing such a daft and unexpected thing as the dead chap did can you?

I agree with bhstewie!

[Taylor James]

phil y said:

We went the other week, after crossing over and coming back, I discovered my 5 year old fits easily through the railing gap.

Did he struggle much?

[TeamD]

Taylor James said:

phil y said:

We went the other week, after crossing over and coming back, I discovered my 5 year old fits easily through the railing gap.

Did he struggle much?

[Superleg48]

So, a moron decides to climb over/through railings on a 120ft viaduct and then plunged to his death because an upright he was holding gave way. Immediately, the focus is on the structural integrity of the railing, rather than the reckless stupidity of the moron concerned.

Why are people so quick not to take responsibility for their actions or actions of others when they were clearly doing something moronic?

Yes, this could have been avoided. Simply by not attempting to climb onto the wrong side of railings clearly there to send a message saying “danger, large drop, risk of death...” and provide a physical barrier.

Unfortunate and sad as this is, the only blame here needs to be apportioned to the moron.

We live in a society where it is increasingly acceptable to lay blame for things that happen at any place but ourselves.

[TeamD]

Superleg48 said:

So, a moron decides to climb over/through railings on a 120ft viaduct and then plunged to his death because an upright he was holding gave way. Immediately, the focus is on the structural integrity of the railing, rather than the reckless stupidity of the moron concerned.

Why are people so quick not to take responsibility for their actions or actions of others when they were clearly doing something moronic?

Yes, this could have been avoided. Simply by not attempting to climb onto the wrong side of railings clearly there to send a message saying “danger, large drop, risk of death...” and provide a physical barrier.

Unfortunate and sad as this is, the only blame here needs to be apportioned to the moron.

We live in a society where it is increasingly acceptable to lay blame for things that happen at any place but ourselves.

Careful, I got banned from the thread about how terminally stupid (literally) sitting in the middle of a level crossing was.

[Roofless Toothless]

A lot will depend on the examination of the risk assessment for this structure, to which the public, it seems, has free access.

People getting into wrong places is something that could well be expected. Remember risk assessments should be written with regard to what is likely to happen, not what is supposed to happen.

[IanH755]

Horrible for his parents I know but I have no sympathy for the idiot himself (had he survived) - Hopefully his wasted life will be a warning to any other moron who decides they're going to do the same.

TBH I'd even consider going as far as to "advertise" his death by putting it on the Aqueducts warning signs "Stay this side of the railing or die like Kristopher McDowell did on 31 May 2016 - You've been warned" just to help prevent any other folks who might get the same moronic idea.

[hutchst]

Roofless Toothless said:

A lot will depend on the examination of the risk assessment for this structure, to which the public, it seems, has free access.

People getting into wrong places is something that could well be expected. Remember risk assessments should be written with regard to what is likely to happen, not what is supposed to happen.

And an occupier can discharge its duty of care through the appropriateuse of signage.