A forklift truck driving employee of Manufacturer Vesuvius UK Limited of Derbyshire was badly injured when he fell from a ramp whilst unloading a lorry on 15th February 2010. He was unloading a 7-metre long container at its Sheepbridge Works in Chesterfield using his truck and mobile ramp when the ramp became separated from the lorry bed, causing the truck and driver to fall to the ground. His injuries were so severe that he spent 8 days in hospital having fractured his back. Unable to work for 9 months he is capable of only part- time work.
HSE found no evidence of a risk assessment for loading/unloading activities taking place on site. Furthermore, the forklift truck drivers were aware of the problem with the ramp and adopted an informal system of using the forks of the truck to push it back into position.
Vesuvius UK Limited of Barlborough, Derbyshire, admitted breaching S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and r.3(1)(a) of the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and was fined £24,000 plus costs of £4,815
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