Dorset manufacturing firm fined after worker injured

Date:

17 October 2011

Release No:

HSE/SR/SW/06

A Dorset manufacturing firm was today fined after a lorry delivery driver was run over by a fork lift truck.

Kelvin Davey, 61, from Verwood, Dorset, had both his ankles and lower legs broken when the fork lift truck reversed into him at Verplas Ltd's Dorset site on 9 March 2010.

Bournemouth Magistrates' Court heard that there was not enough separation of the work area used by both pedestrians and fork lift trucks at the premises.

Although Mr Davey has now returned to work at the company, which manufactures ventilation accessories for the white goods industry, his injuries were initially thought to be severe enough to have ended his career.

Speaking after the case, Health and Safety (HSE) Inspector Ian Smart said:

"Even though Mr Davey was very experienced, this potentially career-ending injury still occurred.

"The message is that if firms have limited space they still have to organise their operation so that they don't have conflicting activities going on in the same place. Pedestrians and fork lift trucks don't mix."

Verplas Ltd of Unit 7, Verwood Industrial Estate, Blackhill, Verwood, Dorset, pleaded guilty to Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and were fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,407.

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. 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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