Fedex UK fined more than half a million pounds after employee injured by forklift

Fedex UK has been fined £533,000 after an employee was struck by a reversing forklift truck.

Cannock Magistrates’ Court heard that on the morning of 2 November 2017 an employee was walking across the depot at Burntwood Business Park, near Cannock, Staffordshire, when he was struck by a reversing forklift truck. He was pinned to the ground by a reversing forklift, and suffered serious fractures to his arm, and had soft tissue injuries to his leg.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that there was insufficient space between forklift trucks and employees within the workspace.

The HSE said that a risk assessment had been carried out but had not identified the importance of achieving robust segregation in an area where frequent forklift truck movements took place.

Fedex UK pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and was fined £533,000 and ordered to pay £10,033.39 in legal fees.

HSE inspector Wendy Campbell said: “Those in control of work have a responsibility to provide safe methods of working and a safe working environment. Collisions between vehicles and pedestrians can be avoided if the workplace layout is properly planned, effectively segregated and suitable systems of work are introduced.

“If physical barriers and a suitable system of work had been in place the injuries sustained by this employee could have been prevented.”