Date of article: 24/07/2007
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Nortec Engineering Ltd of Moss Side, Leyland, a precision sheet metal manufacturer employing 120 people, was prosecuted following two incidents involving fork-lift trucks on 10 February 206 and 28 February 2006.
In the first incident, a driver, Stephen Hewitt, who was employed by Chorley Pallets Ltd, had just delivered a batch of 220 wooden pallets when he approached the fork-lift driver to get his paperwork signed.
The fork-lift trucked reversed and ran over his foot and Mr Hewitt suffered severe bruising causing him to be off work for five days.
In the second incident, Ian Hustings, who is employed as a driver by Nortec, was walking into the dispatch yard when he was struck by a reversing fork-lift truck. Mr Hustings broke his leg and was off work for several months.
On 18 July 2007, the company pleaded guilty to four charges at South Ribbie Magistrates Court.
The company was charged with two offences under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, in that it failed to carry out suitable risk assessments, and two further offences of failing to conduct its business in such a way as not to expose people to risk undr the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974.
Norlec was fined a total of £20,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £3,311.
HSE Inspector Joanne Nicholls said, "Every year a significant number of people are killed or seriously injured by accidents involving vehicles in the workplace, Better planning, training and awareness, and the appropriate use of vehicles, can avoid most of these accidents."
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