Forklift operator fined for death of colleague
December 8, 2009
A forklift truck driver whose actions contributed to the death of a colleague has today been fined £1,500 and ordered to pay costs of £1,000.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Andrew Mason, of Sutton in Craven, following the incident at haulage company Joda Freight of Crosshills, on 14 March 2006. At Skipton Magistrates Court today Mr Mason pleaded guilty to breaching section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
The court heard that Mr. Mason allowed his colleague Francis Roberts, from Bradford, to use the forks of the truck he was driving as an impromptu lift to access pallets on the second deck of a two-tier lorry.
Mr. Roberts slipped and fell from the forklift, sustaining serious injuries that required prolonged treatment in hospital. He died two months later at St Jamesà Hospital in Leeds from complications aged 48.
As an experienced and trained forklift operative, Mr Mason should have known better than to allow anyone to stand on or near his machine while he was working, the court was told.
Find out more about Lift Truck & Warehouse Safety
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Andrew Mason, of Sutton in Craven, following the incident at haulage company Joda Freight of Crosshills, on 14 March 2006. At Skipton Magistrates Court today Mr Mason pleaded guilty to breaching section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
The court heard that Mr. Mason allowed his colleague Francis Roberts, from Bradford, to use the forks of the truck he was driving as an impromptu lift to access pallets on the second deck of a two-tier lorry.
Mr. Roberts slipped and fell from the forklift, sustaining serious injuries that required prolonged treatment in hospital. He died two months later at St Jamesà Hospital in Leeds from complications aged 48.
As an experienced and trained forklift operative, Mr Mason should have known better than to allow anyone to stand on or near his machine while he was working, the court was told.
Find out more about Lift Truck & Warehouse Safety
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