Huge fine following forklift fatality

Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 23 July 2012, the worker was pushing a trolley when he was struck by a side loader forklift truck (FLT) that had been unloading a delivery wagon at the time of the incident.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the FLT was unloading a delivery wagon at the time of the accident. As the worker passed a ventilation system cyclone the reversing FLT struck him.

Woodlands Homecare Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £233,334.00 with £21,620 costs. 

After the hearing, HSE inspector Rachel Brittain commented: “This was a tragic and wholly avoidable incident, caused by the failure of the company to implement the findings of their own transport plan.

“Vehicles at work continue to be a major cause of fatal and major injuries. Every year there are over 5000 incidents involving transport in the workplace. About 50 of these result in people being killed.”