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This article was published on June 1st, 2017
A manufacturing company has been investigated by the HSE and fined more than £1/2 million pounds after an employee was hit and injured by a fork lift truck. The company, which manufactures glass bottles for the drinks industry, was visited by the Health and Safety Executive after a company employee was struck by a fork lift truck causing him to sustain a fractured arm.
The Magistrates Court heard how the company had already received an Improvement Notice (IN) in 2007 for poor segregation in the yard and warehouse between vehicles and pedestrians. An employee had also been injured by a forklift truck in 2008 and the HSE inspection, following the recent accident, revealed that the manufacturing company had failed to make any safety changes or put measures in place since the ‘IN’ to make the working environment safe for their employees. The HSE claimed they found a poor system of work which put their staff at high risk of accident.
The company pleaded guilty to a breach of Regulation 17 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations and was fined £500,000 and order to pay legal costs of £7,290.
An HSE spokesperson commented “Poor segregation leads to accidents. There was a failure to properly plan work and this accident highlights the risks that are involved. Incidents relating to work place transport can be avoided if effective measures are taken.”
The manufacturing company said: “The company is very sorry for the occurrence of the incident and for the harm caused to the employee concerned.”
Employers have a duty to comply with Health and Safety laws and regulations and provide their employees with a safe workplace and if they don’t fulfill this duty then they are breaking the law, as well as putting you at risk. If you have an accident at work that was not your fault then you have a right to file an injury at work claim against them.
Thorneycroft Solicitors provide thorough advice on all aspects injury at work compensation, information on employment-related issues and benefit claims advice where appropriate.
To make a successful accident at work claim, you would need to prove that your workplace injuries were caused as a result of the negligence of your employer and we will advise you on what procedures you need to follow, as well as assisting you in obtaining evidence that will support your accident at work claim.
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