Scaffolding company fined after Forklift incident

A scaffolding company has been successfully prosecuted by the HSE after a worker was crushed by a Forklift Truck.

Heard at Leeds Magistrates Court, the prosecution was sought after an October 2016 incident where an employee seriously injured while operating a Forklift Truck.

The employees of Whiterose Scaffolding (Leeds) Ltd, was using a forklift truck in the yard when the vehicle overturned, trapping him underneath it for some time. The employee sustained serious life changing internal injuries, which mean he now lives with constant chronic pain and has severe mobility issues.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had failed to provide training to their employees on the safe operations of forklift trucks, which would have included the importance of wearing seat belts. The company also failed to provide adequate supervision and monitoring of the forklift truck operators to ensure they were only operated by trained drivers and that safe driving techniques were followed.

Whiterose Scaffolding (Leeds) Ltd of Holbeck Lane, Leeds pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and has been fined £54,270 and ordered to pay £8000 in costs.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Andrea Jones commented: “The employee’s injuries were life changing and could have been fatal. The impact has been devastating on him and his family. Other employees were put at risk as a result of the company allowing fork lift trucks to be used without the appropriate training and monitoring of drivers.

“Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of working”.

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