Friday 25 April 2014

Overturning forklift truck crushes driver

Murfitts Industries Ltd, a rubber granual manufacturer of Lakenheath were fined nearly £28,000 (inc.costs) on 24th April after a forklift truck overturned.
The circumstances were:
  • Murfitts had previously received HSE enforcement about workplace transport.
  • In response to this, they provided training to their own staff but this had not extended to agency workers
  • On 27 September 2012 a forklift truck was being operated by an agency worker.
  • He had not received any formal training to drive the vehicle
  • He was not wearing a seatbelt.
  • He was manoeuvring the vehicle with a clamp attachment in a raised position when it overturned and crushed him.
  • He suffered severe injuries and subsequently had to have his spleen removed.

The HSE Inspector said:
“This injury could easily have been avoided had Murfitts Industries provided sufficient training and adequate supervision to make sure safety measures were in place, such as drivers wearing seatbelts. Forklift trucks can overturn if manoeuvres are not carried out correctly and such risks are well known in the industry.  That is why any driver using these vehicles must be provided with appropriate training. Murfitts knew the standard for training because they had provided it for their own staff, but failed to ensure that their agency workers were similarly trained when using the same equipment.”

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