Telford firm fined £4m over forklift incident which left dad in care home
The victim now lives in a care home and requires care 24 hours a day
A Telford-based electrical wholesaler and manufacturer has been fined £4million after an employee sustained life-changing injuries when he was crushed during loading operations using a forklift truck.
The 40-year-old father of one from Telford was working for City Electrical Factors Limited at its Proteus Switchgear Industrial Division on October 4, 2024, when the incident happened.
The man had been acting as a “spotter” while a forklift truck loaded heavy switchboard equipment onto a flatbed lorry.
The load, which weighed 231kg, was not secured to the forklift and fell on top of him.
He sustained brain and spine injuries and underwent lifesaving surgery.
But, he can no longer do anything for himself and is unable to communicate with others.
As a result of the injuries, he now lives in a care home and requires 24/7 care.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that City Electrical Factors Limited failed to ensure that the lifting operation was properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner.
It said there was no risk assessment or lift plan, and employees had not been provided with information or instructions about the lifting operation, despite it being a regular activity.
The investigation also found that the load could have been secured to the forklift truck using pre-existing anchor points.
The load also had lifting eyes welded to it, which meant that the crane attached to the delivery lorry could have been used as a safer alternative to the forklift truck.
Instead, employees were appointed as “spotters” and were expected to steady the loads while they were being moved and lifted.
The HSE said: “This was clearly an unsafe and unnecessary system of work.”
HSE guidance states that lift plans should address the risks identified by the risk assessment and identify the resources required, the procedures and the responsibilities so that risks are managed, and any lifting operation is carried out safely.
City Electrical Factors Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
The company was fined £4m and ordered to pay £6,304 in costs at Birmingham Magistrates Court today - October 16.
HSE inspector Keeley Eves said: “This incident had truly tragic consequences.
“To make matters worse it was completely avoidable and caused by a failure to properly plan for the job taking place.
“The company could have used safer alternative methods to lift the load, such as the lorry-mounted crane which was available, instead of using the forklift truck.
“Instead, the employee was placed at unnecessary risk and now has to live with his devastating injuries.
“Loading and unloading operations remain one of the most hazardous transport activities in the workplace. Employers must ensure that lifting operations are properly planned by competent persons, supervised and carried out safely.”