Worker was crushed

Posted: Tuesday 21st, July 2015

Solihull firm fined after worker was crushed

Date: 15 June 2015

Solihull based car part manufacturer,TRW Ltd was fined on Monday 15 June 2015
after a worker was crushed between a forklift truck and a trailer suffering serious
injuries.

On the 18 August 2014, the employee, who was a driver of an articulated lorry for
Ford Motor Company, was on site at TRW Ltd making a collection. While altering
the support beam on the trailer during a loading process he was hit by the load on
the forklift which crushed him against the bed of the trailer as the forklift truck
dropped the load.

The driver suffered broken ribs and internal bruising and is still unable to return to
work following ongoing physical problems.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that TRW Ltd
had not adequately assessed the risk from the movement of transport and there
was no formal loading or unloading procedure. No consideration had been given
to segregating pedestrians or providing safe areas for third party drivers. The
forklift truck in use was a side-loading reach truck and the drivers view was
restricted by the load.

Following the accident, the company ensured measures were subsequently put in
place to segregate pedestrians from areas where vehicles were likely to operate
and the risk was greatly reduced.

TRW Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1), Section 33(1)(a) and Section
33(2) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 at Cwmbran Magistrates Court
on Monday 15 June 2015.

The Magistrate said that they considered the breach to have been extremely
serious, this resulted in higher than usual culpability and potential for harm. The
company was fined £14,000 and was ordered to pay full costs of £3988.50.

HSE Inspector Dean Baker said: “The injured person received serious injuries and
now has long term physical and psychological problems as a result of this incident,
howver this accident could have proved fatal.

“Although the company had a general transport policy that identified the risk to
pedestrians, they did not ensure that pedestrians were excluded from certain
areas during loading and unloading activities.

“Instead, they relied upon the use of high visibility jackets and the training of the
forklift truck drivers to prevent accidents. Had the company followed HSE and
industry guidance, the unfortunate accident would not have occurred.

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