A logistics company has been fined after two employees were seriously injured in two days.

The court heard how an employee suffered crush injuries to his foot when hit by a forklift truck. On the next day an operations manager was severely injured after being struck by a metal box that fell from a truck’s forks.

An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found fork lift truck drivers and their supervisors were not properly trained and that risk assessments were poor. Pedestrian and vehicle areas were also inadequately segregated.

Rudolph & Hellmann Automotive Ltd admitted breaking the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It was fined £265,000 and ordered to pay costs of £14,900.

Failure to manage risks

The HSE stressed how important it is that drivers are competent and receive suitable instruction and training. It said sites should be well-designed and maintained with vehicles and people kept apart in order to minimise the risk of accidents.

The HSE said the risks from moving and lifting goods in busy warehouses were well known. It was therefore disappointed to find they were not adequately managed or controlled.

Poor Health & Safety management exposed employees to the danger of falling loads and preventable injuries.

Contact Ellis Whittam to properly manage and control the Health & Safety risks in your workplace.