Two firms in dock after worker struck in the head by forklift

Is your organisational structure destroying your culture?

The serious head injuries a worker sustained when he was struck in the head by a moving fork on a forklift truck have forced him to retire.

Jim McGowan, 66, was working for MD Engineering Services (UK) Ltd when the incident took place on 15 December 2010. He was due to retire two months later but he intended to continue working.

Hartlepool Magistrates’ Court heard MD Engineering Services had been contracted to remove redundant machinery and equipment at SAICA Pack UK Ltd’s premises in Queensway, Hartlepool.

At the time of the incident, Mr McGowan was attempting to remove a screw conveyor from a mezzanine platform, assisted by his supervisor, John Boyle. Owing to the restricted access to the platform, they devised a plan to attach a lifting sling around the conveyor, and then hook it on to the raised forks of a forklift truck.

Mr McGowan bent over, ready to attach the sling to the forklift, while Mr Boyle operated the vehicle. As the forks were raised, the right-hand fork became caught on the stop bracket of the platform’s gate. Mr Boyle was unaware that the fork was trapped and continued to raise the forks. The pressure caused the bracket to break, releasing the fork, which sprung upwards and struck Mr McGowan on the forehead.

He suffered a double fracture to the skull, facial fractures and a fractured eye socket. He still suffers from headaches and memory loss and has been forced to retire owing to his injuries.€

Approaches to managing the risks associated Musculoskeletal disorders

In this episode of the Safety & Health Podcast, we hear from Matt Birtles, Principal Ergonomics Consultant at HSE’s Science and Research Centre, about the different approaches to managing the risks associated with Musculoskeletal disorders.

Matt, an ergonomics and human factors expert, shares his thoughts on why MSDs are important, the various prevalent rates across the UK, what you can do within your own organisation and the Risk Management process surrounding MSD’s.