HGV company fined after worker’s death
ATE Truck and Trailer Sales, a company that buys, refurbishes and sells Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and trailers has been sentenced after the death of 63-year-old worker William Price.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that on 21 February 2013 Mr Price suffered fatal head injuries when he was struck by the roof of a trailer he was dismantling at the Marston Industrial Estate site.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found ATE had undertaken this task before by its own employees and had an established method in place. However, it failed to properly consider the risks involved in this work and did not provide Mr Price with any information in relation to his safety when ‘stripping down’ the trailers.
ATE Truck and Trailer Services pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. The company has today been fined £475,000 and ordered to pay costs of £20,000.
Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Judith Botwood said: “This tragic accident was preventable had all parties considered the risks involved and taken appropriate measures to reduce that risk.”
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