Trafford lorry builder fined after worker crushed

Date:

5 March 2010

Release No:

HSE/NW/047Cartwright/09

A lorry-trailer building company in Trafford has been fined after a worker was crushed by more than two tonnes of metal.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted S Cartwright and Sons (Coachbuilders) Ltd following the incident in Broadheath near Altrincham. The company was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £18,315 towards the cost of the prosecution at Manchester Crown Court, Minshull Street, on Friday 5 March.

The court heard that David Jones was helping to move a stack of 6.7 metre-long metal strips onto a trailer on 13 March 2008 when the incident happened. The stack and lifting beam, weighing a total of 2.2 tonnes, fell onto him from the forks of a forklift truck.

The metal strips and beam which injured David Jones

Mr Jones broke his back in four places, 12 ribs and a shoulder blade, punctured a lung, bruised his heart and suffered stomach injuries.

HSE Inspector Richard Clarke said:

"One of S Cartwright and Sons' workers was seriously injured because the company did not do enough to protect the safety of its employees. Mr Jones is still in constant pain and the incident could have killed him.

"The company regularly requires its employees to unload long stacks of metal strips, which are used to build the trailers for lorries. But, at the time of the incident, it did not provide suitable training or written guidance for its staff to handle long loads.

"Manufacturing companies can be dangerous places to work if the risks are not properly managed. It's vital that good health and safety measures are put in place to prevent workers from being injured."

S Cartwright and Sons (Coachbuilders) Ltd, of Atlantic Street, Broadheath, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of its employees.

There were 32 deaths and more than 22,400 serious injuries in the manufacturing sector in Great Britain last year. Information on improving safety is available at www.hse.gov.uk/manufacturing.

Notes to editors

1. Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."

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