Company loses appeal against health and safety conviction
June 4, 2008

The city's crown court handed Harris Transport a fine of £28,000 in January after a member of staff was run over by a forklift truck, suffering severe injuries to both legs.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found a systematic breakdown in the firm's health and safety management had occured, including insufficient lighting and poor maintenance of the trucks.
In addition drivers were found to have received no training on how to operate the vehicles in a safe manner.
Ray Kelly, the HSE's prosecuting inspector, said Mr McMahon is unlikely to work again and expressed his disappointment in the company's decision to appeal against its fine.
"This case illustrates how easily normal work places can become incident scenes when health and safety management systems breakdown. The HSE were very disappointed that Harris Transport felt the need to challenge the original penalty," he stated.
Employers are required by law to take out insurance cover against accidents at work to include those arising from the use of equipment such as forklift trucks, according to Carrs Solicitors.

More Court Cases news:
Worker suffers severe injuries when hand caught in industrial drill - March 16, 2010GBP100,000 fine after mobile crane overturns - March 16, 2010
GBP90000 fine for Royal Mail following employee death - March 11, 2010
Fine after builder put lives at risk - March 11, 2010
Unsafe scaffolding puts workers at risk - March 11, 2010

