Ministry of Defence sanctioned over Teesside soldier's death

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 3 Nov, 17:16 · Archive

The Ministry of Defence has been issued with a Crown Censure, the strongest sanction available against a Crown body, over the death of Private Jethro Watson-Pickering, 23, during a training exercise.

Private Jethro Watson-Pickering, 23, from Boosbeck near Redcar, was driving a Scimitar combat vehicle during Exercise Iron Storm at the British Army's Salisbury Plain training area in Wiltshire on 15 October 2021. His unit was acting as the enemy force for another Army regiment. At around 11.50am, while manoeuvring to escape an attack, the vehicle's gun barrel struck a tree. The impact caused the turret to rotate rapidly, and a storage bin attached to it struck Private Watson-Pickering's head, causing fatal injuries. He died at the scene.

Following a Health and Safety Executive investigation, the Ministry of Defence has been issued with a Crown Censure, a formal public reprimand and the strongest enforcement action the HSE can take against a government department. The investigation found the MoD had not met its duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act. Inspectors concluded there was no safe system of work for driving the vehicle during the exercise, risk assessments had failed to identify the danger of turret rotation, and no measures were in place to protect drivers from being struck by parts attached to the turret. The investigation also found inadequate training and instructions were provided to soldiers, and earlier incidents had not prompted proper risk-assessment reviews.

By accepting the Crown Censure, the Ministry of Defence admitted breaching its duties under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

How it is being reported

• MOD rapped for Teesside soldier's death after being struck in head during trainingThe Ministry of Defence has been issued with the most serious sanction available against a Crown body after the death of a Teesside soldier during a training exercise on Salisbury Plain.The Northern Echo · 3 Nov, 16:48
• Ministry of Defence hit with 'maximum sanction' over Teesside soldier's deathPrivate Jethro Watson-Pickering, 23, from Boosbeck, was killed during an exercise on Salisbury Plain :: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with a 'Crown Censure'TeessideLive · 3 Nov, 15:26

In this story: Private Jethro Watson-Pickering · Ministry of Defence · Health and Safety Executive · Salisbury Plain · Boosbeck · 1st Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment

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