Industry News » Croner report on Fork-lift truck fatality

11-10-2006

Croner, the health and safety information service, recently reported a prosecution by a local Council in Yorkshire prosecuting a business for health & Safety breaches leading to a fatality of an employee as a result of an accident with a fork-lift truck.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded by the Coroner.  However an investigation by the Council's Environmental Health Officers determined that:

• The fork-lift truck had a defective handbrake
• The vehicle had not been effectively maintained or examined to ensure its safety.
• The sum total of fines including the payment of costs was in excess of £60,000.
  

Paul Mears, the Councils Health, Safety and Licensing Manager, said "This tragic accident was completely avoidable had the company and management followed established basic safety rules concerning fork-lift trucks."

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