Inadequate supervision and no risk assessment

Summary

A young person who was run over by a forklift truck that was being driven by an untrained and unauthorised person. He was riding on the side of the truck when he fell off and the FLT ran over his leg. The young person was not properly supervised nor was a young persons risk assessment carried out.

Action

The farming company was prosecuted under section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and 5(4) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. The company pleaded guilty and was fined £7,000 together with £4,000 towards the prosecution costs.

Advice

Children are more vulnerable to injury than adults. Adequate instruction and training, appropriate to the physical and emotional maturity of the person being trained, should be provided for all pieces of equipment used on the farm - this is particularly important for young people. This accident could easily have been prevented.