Company fined after worker struck by forklift

Manchester & Salford Magistrates’ Court heard that on 13 April 2015 that an employee of West Coast Corrugated Ltd was struck by a reversing clamp truck which resulted in him fracturing his pelvis at the company’s site in Deacon Park, Liverpool.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company had failed to consider the risk created by vehicles and pedestrians operating in the same area.

The investigation also found the company failed to implement a traffic management plan to ensure workers and vehicles were adequately segregated. There was also a failure to install physical barriers to clearly segregate pedestrians and vehicles.

West Coast Corrugated Ltd of Hannover Street, Liverpool, Merseyside pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. The company has been fined £80,000 and ordered to pay £4,337.84 in costs.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector HSE Bradley Wigglesworth said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices.

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”