Two Yorkshire businesses, Brighouse Pallet Services Ltd and Seal It Services Ltd, have been fined after a HGV driver suffered a fracture to one of his neck vertebrae.
The delivery driver, an employee of Brighouse Pallet Services Ltd was struck by one or two falling pallets whilst they were being unloaded from a HGV trailer by a Seal It Services Ltd fork-lift truck (FLT) operator at the latter company’s site at Elland.
The HSE investigation found that both companies failed in their duty to provide a safe system of work. They failed to put in place simple control measures to ensure that all delivery drivers who visited the Seal It Services Ltd site were moved to a safe location for waiting, whilst HGV trailers were being unloaded by FLTs.
Brighouse Pallet Services Ltd was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £4,806.60 in costs and Seal It Services Ltd was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £4,654.90 in costs.
After the court hearing, HSE Inspector David Welsh, said: “Loading and unloading of HGVs by FLTs are among the most dangerous transport activities in the workplace. People can be hit by falling objects, struck by FLTs, or fall from vehicles.
“All such incidents can result in serious personal injury and the risks involved must be managed by all those who have legal duties for the safety of delivery drivers, both their employer and the sites they deliver to.
“This incident could so easily have been avoided by implementing the simple control measure of keeping the delivery driver out of the area where the FLT was operating to maintain a safe system of work.”
Need Advice?
Speak to a member of our health and safety team today. Call us on 02920 853733 or email tcms@thomas-carroll.co.uk.
