Company fined £900,000 after man crushed to death
05 January 2024
A company in Leicestershire has been fined £900,000 after a father-of-two was crushed to death.
Lee Benham died on 4 November 2021 while attempting to move a scissor lift at Nationwide Platform Limited’s (the Company) workshop in Liskeard, Cornwall. Lee was operating a scissor lift from the ground to clear an access path so he could move pieces of machinery out of the workshop and load it onto his lorry in the yard.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into the incident found that the Company failed to sufficiently consider the dangers of operating machinery via moveable controls, and failed to provide appropriate monitoring and supervision during the morning when drivers were loading machinery onto their lorries.
The case comes as a reminder to HGV operators of their obligations in relation to ensuring drivers and other staff are properly trained in the use of any equipment they may be required to use and they provide appropriate monitoring and supervision of loading which is a high risk activity. Operators need to assess the risks associated with loading and unloading their vehicles and have thorough risk assessments, systems of work and training to ensure that risks are kept to a minimum. Please contact us here for advice and assistance in relation to these systems.
The full story published by the HSE can be found here.
