A Scottish confectionery and meringue manufacturer has been fined £5,000 after a worker was badly injured in a fall from a forklift truck.
The employee of Lees of Scotland Limited was hurt while helping unload a delivery of equipment from a lorry using a forklift truck in the yard of the company’s Coatbridge site on June 4, 2019.
The man had been asked to get on the forklift truck to try to help it stay upright because it couldn’t lift the load.
The employee fell from the forklift truck, resulting in a broken arm, cuts to his head and muscle damage to his back. He was off work for more than four weeks, before returning on light duties.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Lees of Scotland Limited had failed to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks arising from a lifting operation undertaken by employees.
This involved the unloading of a lorry using a forklift truck which was not capable of lifting the weight of the loads.
Lees of Scotland Limited, North Caldeen Road, Coatbridge pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations Section 2(1) and Section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974. It was fined £5,000 at Airdrie Sheriff Court on December 13, 2022.
HSE inspector Ashley Fallis said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
Notes to Editors:
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise.
- More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
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