Visiting worker's leg crushed by forklift

Preston Magistrates’ Court heard how on 14 April 2015 a visiting worker to the Leyland premises was securing a load of palletised metal drums when he was struck by a reversing fork lift truck knocking him to the ground, running over his leg.

The incident caused severe muscle damage to the man’s calf and broken bones to his foot. Due to his injuries, the driver was unable to return to his usual work until a year later.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) 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.

Speaking after the case HSE inspector Rose Leese-Weller said “This was a wholly avoidable incident, caused by the failure of the host company to adequately communicate and implement safe systems of work to its employees and others.”