Visiting driver knocked down by a fork lift truck
The following case considers the importance of communicating and implementing safe systems of work to its employees and others. This is due to an international food company has been fined after a forklift truck collided with a visiting recycling company driver.
Preston Magistrates’ Court heard how on 14 April 2015 a forklift truck reversed into a worker knocking him to the ground and ran over his leg, when securing a load of palletised metal drums. The incident caused severe muscle damage to the man’s calf and broken bones to his foot. The driver was unable to return to his usual work until a year later, due to his injuries.
The root of the problem identified by the Health and Safety Executive found the company had failed to adequately identify the risks and adequate controls or to communicate such to visiting drivers.
Dr Oetker Ltd of Park Approach, Leeds pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and has been fined £333,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,113.
