Warrington worker struck by forklift at recycling plant

Date:

5 September 2012

A recycling firm, which ignored warnings about safety at its plant in Warrington, has been sentenced 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 Ltd was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the incident on 18 November 2010.

Warrington Magistrates' Court heard today (5 September 2012) 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 Ltd pleaded guilty to a breach of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 by failing to ensure workers and vehicles could move safely around the site. The company was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £3,365 in prosecution costs.

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 www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport.

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. Regulation 17(1) of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 states: "Every workplace shall be organised in such a way that pedestrians and vehicles can circulate in a safe manner."

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