September 30, 2009
Company Fined after Forklift Truck Kills Worker
After the death of an employee who was crushed by a forklift truck at work, the HSE has issuing warnings to construction companies to ensure that the passageways used by trucks and pedestrians at workplaces are safe.
The incident happened when Shaun Porter, an employee aged 31 years, was shifting a steel assembly from one place to another at the work site. He saw a large vehicle frame sticking out into the gangway he was using, so he tried to lift up the forks so that he could make space for his truck to pass through.
His co-workers from a distance saw that he was about to bump into the frame, so they yelled at him to stop. He tried to apply the brakes, but unfortunately, his truck spun around and tipped over. Shaun tried to make an escape but was caught by the truck and was squashed under it. He died instantaneously.
As a result, Trackline (International) Ltd was found to be guilty of breaching section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 for not providing a safe work environment and for not having made correct arrangements for the secure operation of forklift trucks. The company was asked to pay a fine of £7,500 and £6,690 as costs at Lincoln Crown Court.
A formal inquiry concluded that the death had happened due to the crushing of Porter’s internal body parts. The HSE also uncovered that the company did not have properly marked passageways or gangways and that there was no means to determine the weight of loads used. The employees were seen to be moving through unauthorized passages and gangways.
It is important for all companies to judge the level of risk associated in their work place where pedestrians and vehicles move around at work close to each other. Appropriate safety steps must be taken as are prescribed under the HSE guidance. Workplace Law is a major provider of accredited health and safety training; click on NEBOSH General, a course in the management of health and safety could help you cut the risks that apply in your workplace.
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