The importance of keeping vehicles and people apart has been shown once more after a worker was forcibly struck by a moving vehicle.

A ‘mechanical shovel’ was being driven at pace to get momentum to load refuse when an employee walked in the shovel driver’s blind spot. He suffered near fatal injuries and lost both legs.

Another accident waiting to happen

The court heard it was “an accident waiting to happen” as the site had no walkways or system to keep people and vehicles apart. The judge said the driver was simply unaware of the worker’s presence.

The company’s failure to separate vehicles and people fell well below required industry standards.

CCTV footage from the previous two weeks showed some 90 examples where moving vehicles were close to pedestrians. There was nothing to stop them being there at the same time.

Help needed

Sundorne Products (Llanidloes) Ltd admitted breaking Health & Safety law. It was fined £180,000 with £7,650 costs.

The company accepted it needed help managing Health & Safety and has since installed pedestrian fencing.