Crushed under forklift truck

Posted: Tuesday 21st, July 2015

Company in court after worker crushed under forklift truck

Date: 16 June 2015

A Lincolnshire transport and storage firm has been prosecuted after a father-of-two
died when a metal frame being loaded onto a lorry trailer fell on top of him.

Jonathan Newham, 52, of Skegness, died in hospital from head and chest crush
injuries following the incident at George H Kime and Co Ltd in Wrangle, near
Boston, Lincolnshire, on 10 July 2012.

The incident was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the
company was charged with serious safety breaches.

Lincoln Crown Court heard that George H Kime and Co Ltd had transported a
consignment of goods from Wiltshire to Wrangle in readiness for the items to be
auctioned in Skegness.

Mr Newham and a colleague were using forklift trucks to move the goods, which
were not on pallets, from the trailer to a second vehicle, as the trailer was needed
elsewhere.

Mr Newham had moved a large metal-wheeled chassis, also known as a ‘dolly’,
from the first trailer. His colleague then attempted to load the dolly onto the second
trailer.

For unknown reasons, Mr Newham climbed onto the second trailer. As his
colleague loaded the dolly onto the trailer with the forklift, it fell off the tines of the
forklift truck, trapping and fatally injuring Mr Newham underneath.

HSE’s investigation identified that George H Kime and Co Ltd had failed to ensure
the safety of their employees during the movement of the metal dolly. They had
failed to plan and supervise the lift and there was no safe system of work in place
for the movement of loads not placed on pallets. The forklift truck drivers were
trained and competent to move items on pallets.

The court heard the Company should have made sure there was someone in
charge who was qualified to plan the lift to ensure it was suspended securely, and
to ensure that the item could be safely placed down after being moved. A properly
planned and supervised lift would have resulted in the risks being identified and
controlled and exclude people from the area. The court heard that whilst the
company had some procedures in place, the absence of strong management
systems meant that the Company was complacent about the risks and failed to
ensure that the procedures were followed.

George H Kime and Co Ltd of Main Road, Wrangle, was fined £125,000 and
ordered to pay £61,935 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of
the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Sally Harris said:

“Mr Newham’s death was entirely avoidable and his life was needlessly lost.

“Lifting large, heavy and awkward items requires planning by a competent person
and safe systems of work.

“Lifting operations, which often present severe risks to workers, must be properly
planned, controlled and adequately supervised. By taking these steps, businesses
can prevent tragic incidents such as this from happening.”

Speaking after the court hearing, Mr Newham’s wife of 33 years, Mrs Gillian
Newham, said:

“It is difficult to describe what we as a family lost on that terrible day. John and I
were very much in love.

“We had raised a family and now it was our time to do the things we had dreamed
about. We had big plans for the house, holidays abroad and were excited about a
future that John had worked so hard to provide for.

“It all ended that day and our hopes and dreams were shattered. John was my
strength, my rock and my comforter. He is missed enormously. He was quite
simply a marvelous, selfless husband and father.”

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