A wood-based materials manufacturer has been fined £910,000 after a self-employed LGV driver was killed making a routine delivery.
Back in June 2017, the lorry driver was standing on open ground at the rear of the trailer of his articulated vehicle, when he was struck by a wheeled shovel loader operating in the yard of the premises he was delivering to.
The company was fined £910,000, after pleading guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
During the HSE (Health and Safety Investigation) investigation, they found that the company’s risk assessments for workplace transport were not suitable or sufficient. This resulted in a failure to identify that pedestrians, including delivery drivers, were at risk of being struck by moving vehicles in the yard, despite the high level of vehicle movements and previous near misses. Consequently, the company failed to implement appropriate measures to control that risk, including the provision of designated pedestrian walkways.
HSE Inspector Kathryn Wilson said: “The risks to pedestrians where vehicles are operating is well known. This incident could so easily have been avoided had the company identified the risks and put straightforward control measures and safe working practices in place. Had they done so the delivery driver would still be alive. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”