Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
Your industry news - first
The original and best - for over 20 years!
We strongly recommend viewing Cleanzine full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version.
Worker struck by forklift leaves recycling plant out of pocket
A recycling firm, which ignored warnings about safety at its plant in Warrington, has been fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £3,365 in prosecution costs after a worker was struck by a forklift truck.
The truck was carrying a large bale of crushed aluminium cans when it hit the 43-year-old man as he walked across the warehouse floor at the site on Thelwall Lane in Latchford. The worker, who doesn't wish to be named, suffered damage to his ankles and feet.
Novelis UK was prosecuted by the Health & Safety Executive following the incident in November 2010. Warrington Magistrates' Court heard yesterday that HSE inspectors had given Novelis advice about improving the vehicle and pedestrian segregation four months before the incident. Workers at the plant had also previously raised concerns about the issue. The court was told forklift trucks were regularly used in the warehouse, but there was not an adequate system in place to keep vehicles away from pedestrians.
Novelis UK pleaded guilty to a breach of the Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992 by failing to ensure workers and vehicles could move safely around the site.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Martin Heywood said:
"Novelis received previous warnings from HSE and its own workers about how vehicles operated in the warehouse, but it failed to act on these. The company didn't carry out a proper assessment of the risks and, as a result, there was no system for keeping forklift trucks away from pedestrians.
"It has since made significant improvements and forklifts can now operate safely within the warehouse. However, it's disappointing that it took the injury of a worker for these changes to be made."
Advice for companies on how vehicles can be kept at a safe distance from pedestrian workers is available at:
20th September 2012