A scaffolding company has been fined after a worker was crushed by a forklift truck, sustaining lifelong injuries.
The employee was working for Whiterose Scaffolding (Leeds) Ltd, operating a lift truck in the yard when the truck overturned, trapping him underneath. As a result of the incident the worker sustained serious life changing internal injuries and since the accident, is now living with chronic pain and severe mobility issues.
An investigation carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after the incident showed that the company had failed to provide operator training to employees who were required to use forklift trucks. As a result, the worker was not aware of required safety measures, such as wearing a seatbelt. The company was also found to have failed in providing appropriate supervision and monitoring of employees operating the lift trucks to ensure that only those with training were using the machines and that safe driving techniques were being followed.
Commenting on the incident, HSE Inspector, Andrea Jones, said “The employee’s injuries were life changing and could have been fatal. The impact has been devastating on him and his family. Other employees were put at risk as a result of the company allowing fork lift truck to be used without the appropriate training and monitoring of drivers.”
She continued “Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of working.”
Whiterose Scaffolding (Leeds) Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, receiving a fine of £54,270, with further costs of £8,000.
Source: SHP Online, Forklift crush incident left worker severely injured, 14th November 2018. Read the full article.