Engineering Company in court over forklift incident

The 46 year old worker from Skelmersdale sustained serious flesh wounds and a fractured arm in the incident on the 30th June 2014.

Knowsley Engineering Services was prosecuted on 30 August by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an investigation found the company had failed to ensure that the lifting operation was suitably planned, supervised or carried out safely.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the worker and a colleague were attempting to manoeuvre the structure out of the premises using a forklift truck. Whilst trying to raise the structure from its supporting trestles it twisted, and swung towards the worker, entering the cab of the forklift truck and striking him.

The company had not carried out a risk assessment and no formal training had been provided for the employees.

Knowsley Engineering Services pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7670.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Imran Siddiqui said: “Had the company taken basic steps such as providing suitable training so those undertaking the lift were in a more informed position to assess and then adequately manage the risks, this incident would have been avoided.”