William Stobart & Son has been fined a six-figure sum by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an employee lost both legs while working at its site near Warrington, writes Carol Millett.
HSE issued the £160,000 fine when Andrew McAuley, who was picking orders at the firm’s warehouse, was close to a forklift truck (FLT) being used to load pallets of slate tiles onto a waiting truck when it shed its load crushing his legs.
The incident took place at Appleton Thorn, on 20 June 2022.
The FLT was carrying two pallets, with the top pallet not secured to the one below. When the FLT driver turned the vehicle both pallets fell from the forks, with the upper pallet striking Andrew McAuley.
He had to have both legs amputated below the knee, leaving him dependent upon a wheelchair and unable to drive or climb stairs. Subsequently, extensive adaptations to the family home have had to be made.
An HSE investigation found that William Stobart & Son failed to ensure the area of the warehouse in which the accident happened was organised so that vehicles and pedestrians were segregated and circulated in a safe manner and loads were secured.
William Stobart & Son pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, it was fined £160,000 and ordered to pay £4,478 costs.
HSE Inspector Lorna Sherlock said: “Mr McAuley has been left with devastating and life changing injuries. The company failed to implement a safe system of work for loading and unloading activities, thereby exposing employees, and others, to the risk of being struck by loads or workplace vehicles.
“This case illustrates the consequences of failing to segregate vehicles and pedestrians, and to properly secure loads. This injury could easily have been prevented.”
