Buckinghamshire company fined after forklift truck struck worker

A packaging company has been fined after an employee was struck by a reversing forklift truck.

Reading Magistrates’ Court heard that on 9 August 2018 an employee, Arthur Weston, working at Boxes and Packaging (Oxford) Limited in Long Crendon, was struck by a reversing forklift truck when he bent down to pick up a broken piece of wood.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found there was inadequate separation of fork lift trucks and pedestrians within the workspace. The unit where the Mr Weston worked was in an unsuitable area right next to the traffic route.

Boxes and Packaging (Oxford) Limited of Drakes Drive, Long Crendon was found guilty of breaching Regulations 4 (1) and 17 (1) of Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. The company has been fined £10,000.00 and ordered to pay costs of £2,560.00.

Speaking after the hearing inspector, Stephen Faulkner, said: “The Company failed to undertake a number of simple safety measures including segregation of reversing vehicles, from employees.

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

Source HSE 10 February 2020