Hampshire firm fined after worker's death

25/01/2012

An accident at work which caused the death of an employee has led to a Hampshire manufacturer being fined GBP 65,000 and ordered to pay GBP 60,000 in costs.

Adam Millichip, from Tenbury Wells, was delivering pallets of sheet steel to Wessex Lift Co Limited in Hampshire when the incident happened.

Investigators at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that Mr Millichip had parked the lorry at the side of the road, ready for the pallets to be offloaded by a forklift truck.

The forklift driver, employed by Wessex Lift Co Ltd, struck Mr Millichip across the chest with a pallet weighing around a tonne, trapping him against the side of the lorry.

He suffered major internal organ failure as a result of crush injuries across his chest and died shortly afterwards.

HSE's investigation also found that inadequate controls were in place at the time of the incident to protect people from moving vehicles, and insufficient consideration had been given to the risks involved in offloading.

Following sentencing, HSE inspector David Bibby said: "This tragic case highlights the importance of proper planning for deliveries, particularly around the risks of moving forklift trucks.

Posted by Wayne Weir

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