A firm in Liverpool and its Director have been prosecuted for safety failings after a worker suffered serious injuries when he was struck by a fork lift truck and dragged under its wheel.
The man, an employee of Waste Away Skip Hire (Liverpool) Ltd was picking through some waste materials when the incident occurred in April 2013. The truck was reversing at the time and after the worker was hit, he was then dragged under the rear wheel of the vehicle. As a result of the accident, the man suffered a number of serious injuries including a punctured lung, snapped pelvis, broken ribs, and the removal of his spleen.
South Sefton Magistrates Court heard that there wasn’t a safe system of work in place, which may have prevented the incident from occurring. In addition, a risk assessment had not been carried out, and this would have highlighted the need to segregate pedestrians and moving vehicles in the workplace. It was found that the truck had not been examined in the previous 12 months in accordance with the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.
Today (5th May) the Company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and it was fined £14,000 alongside costs of £1791.50 and a victim surcharge of £120.
Director of the company, Leanne Koo, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. She was fined £1,000 alongside costs of £387.50 and a victim surcharge of £120.