The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted an engineering company in Knowsley on Merseyside, after an employee was seriously injured when he was struck by a metal structure during a lifting process using a fork-lift truck.
On 30June 2014, the 46-year-old unnamed worker from Skelmersdale in West Lancashire sustained serious flesh wounds and a fractured arm in the incident.
The worker and a colleague were attempting to manoeuvre the metal structure out of the premises using the fork-lift truck, when the structure twisted away from the supporting trestles and swung towards the worker, entering the cab of the fork-lift truck and hitting him.
An HSE investigation found that the company had failed to ensure that the lifting operation was suitably planned, supervised – or carried out safely.
The company had not carried out a risk assessment – and no formal training had been provided for employees.
At Liverpool Crown Court, Knowsley Engineering Services Ltd of Peel Road Industrial Estate, Skelmersdale pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The company was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,670.
Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector Imran Siddiqui said:
“Had the company taken basic steps – such as providing suitable training so those undertaking the lift were in a more informed position to assess and then adequately manage the risks – this incident would have been avoided.”
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