September 16th, 2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned employers that they must provide safe working environments after a man was killed in a forklift truck accident.
Shaun Porter, 31, was working at Trackline (International) in Northampton in 2007 and was attempting to move a load of material from one side of the factory to another.
There was a vehicle frame in the gangway and although Mr Porter lifted the load to avoid it, he clipped the frame with his vehicle and it overturned.
The victim was crushed and died instantly.
An investigation by the HSE discovered that there was no official gangway in the factory and no marked access routes for employees to use.
HSE inspector Jo Anderson said: "Companies must understand the importance of managing transport in the workplace in order to prevent a tragedy like this happening again in the future."
Additional statistics from the organisation show that there were 35 fatal injuries to manufacturing workers in 2007-08, as well as 5,097 reported major injuries.
Tags: Fatal Injuries, Forklift Truck, Gangway, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Hse, Man Health, Mr Porter, Northampton, Statistics, Tragedy, Truck Accident, Vehicle Frame, Working Environments
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July 29th, 2009
A young mechanic is seeking compensation after his arm was almost severed in an accident involving a forklift truck.
Martyn Coope, then 17, was working at William West Distribution in West Hallam and had been asked to load biscuits onto a trailer.
He had never been trained to operate a forklift and he had previously told his supervisors that the brakes were faulty.
As he attempted to drive it, the brakes failed and he crashed into a lorry trailer, trapping his right arm.
Surgeons initially feared that Mr Coope would have to have it amputated, but it was eventually saved through skin grafts and metal pins.
The victim is now seeking compensation after William West Distribution admitted failings in health and safety measures.
"These practices were potentially lethal. It was only by good luck that the accident was not more debilitating or fatal," said Judge John Stobart.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, forklift trucks account for approximately one-quarter of all workplace transport major injuries to employees every year.
Tags: Biscuits, Brakes, Forklift Truck, Forklift Trucks, Good Luck, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Judge John, Mechanic, Metal Pins, Right Arm, Safety Measures, Skin Grafts, West Hallam, Worker Compensation, Workplace Transport
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November 26th, 2008
A man who worked for a printing company has been paid compensation after falling from a ladder.
Kenneth Blair, 58, had worked for Trinity Mirror for 18 years, but on the night of the accident, was put in charge of a different machine.
As he stood on a ladder, he was knocked off by the driver of a forklift truck and broke his wrist, the Workplace Law Network reports.
Mr Blair claims that had had no safety training to work on the new machine and had to retire as a result of his injuries.
Trinity Mirror admitted 85 per cent liability for the incident and agreed to pay Mr Blair £140,000 in compensation.
Unite regional secretary Kevin Coyne says: "It is vital businesses have very clear health and safety procedures in place in the workplace and that staff are briefed before they start work on a job that is new to them."
All employers are obliged by law to ensure the safety of their employees under a duty of care.
They must provide a safe workplace, safe systems of work, safe equipment and safe fellow employees.
If any safety regulations are breached and an injury occurs, the victim may be eligible for compensation. The Health and Safety Executive will prosecute where appropriate employers that break the law.
Tags: 18 Years, Duty Of Care, Fellow Employees, Forklift Truck, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Health And Safety Procedures, Job, Kevin Coyne, Ladder, Mr Blair, Printing Company, Regional Secretary, Safe Systems Of Work, Safety Regulations, Safety Training, Trinity Mirror, Vital Businesses, Workplace Law
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September 26th, 2008
Two companies have been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a man was killed while operating a forklift truck at work.
Shane Neal, 34, was manouvering the vehicle on a Building Research Establishment (BRE) site in 2003 when it overturned and landed on top of him.
It was found that Mr Neal had not received sufficient training to allow him to operate the vehicle.
Welwood Roofing Services admitted to a breach of section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £50,000, plus costs of £25,000.
Meanwhile, BRE was fined £17,500 with £12,000 costs after pleading guilty to a breach of Regulation 9(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
HSE inspector Alison Ashworth said: "Mr Neal’s death could have been avoided had the companies involved carried out checks to confirm whether or not he knew of the dangers of forklift trucks and how to drive them safely."
No worker should be employed to operate a lift truck unless he or she has satisfactorily completed training and testing.
If an employee sustains injury while operating a forklift without training, then that employee may well have a valid claim for compensation against his or her employer.
Tags: Alison, Ashworth, Building Research Establishment, Forklift Training, Forklift Truck, Forklift Trucks, Health And Safety, Health And Safety At Work, Health And Safety At Work Act, Health And Safety At Work Act 1974, Health And Safety Executive, Hse, Provision And Use Of Work Equipment, Provision And Use Of Work Equipment Regulations, Provision And Use Of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, Quot, Roofing Services, Safety At Work, Section 3
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September 19th, 2008
An accident in which a woman lost a leg has resulted in a fine for the company she worked for.
Lisa Ramos, 32, was hit by a forklift truck as she carried papers across a warehouse belonging to international distributors NYK Logistics in Derby.
She was seriously injured and, as a result, had to have her leg amputated below the knee.
NYK Logistics was fined £20,000, as well as £5,941 in costs, for breaches of regulations 4(1) and 17(1) of the Workplace Health Safety and Welfare Regulations 1992.
It was ruled that the company had not organised the workplace so that both pedestrians and vehicles could circulate safely.
Health and Safety Executive principal inspector Andrew Turner said: "Ms Ramos could have been killed as a result of this incident and has suffered a very serious injury, but it could have been avoided if NYK had taken a few simple measures."
Compensation may be awarded to people who have been injured in an accident involving a forklift truck if sufficient training has not been given or the safety measures in the workplace are insufficient.
Tags: Andrew Turner, Breaches, Executive Principal, Forklift Truck, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Health Safety And Welfare Regulations 1992, International Distributors, Logistics, Pedestrians, Principal Inspector, Prosecution, Quot, Safety Measures, Woman, Workplace Health Safety, Workplace Health Safety And Welfare Regulations, Workplace Health Safety And Welfare Regulations 1992
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