A warehouse and storage company has been fined £32,000 after an employee sustained serious injuries when he was hit by a Counterbalance (Forklift) truck.
Back in July 2019, a delivery driver was in a delivery yard in Southampton, while his vehicle was being loaded, when he was hit by a forklift truck, Southampton’s Magistrates’ Court was told. He was knocked to the ground and the forklift truck ran over his legs causing severe crush injuries.
The company was fined £32,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,222, after pleading guilty to breaching section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
During the HSE (Health and Safety Investigation) investigation, they found that there were inadequate control measures in place to segregate pedestrians and vehicles at the delivery yard. HSE Inspector Nicola Pinckney, said: “The injuries sustained in this incident were life changing and could have been easily fatal. This incident could have been avoided if basic vehicle and pedestrian segregation and control measures such as barriers, marked walkways and safe working practices had been in place.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standard.”