A company from Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland has been fined £24,000 after the death of a 49-year-old Polish employee who was fatally injured when the forklift truck he was driving overturned, trapping him between the vehicle’s safety frame and the ground.
The sentencing comes after a Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) investigation into the fatal incident at the company’s premises in Nutts Corner Business Park, Crumlin, Co. Antrim.
The investigation found that the deceased was employed as a general operative, not a forklift truck operator and as a result had not been trained on the operation of the lift trucks by the company.
At Antrim Crown, Cherry Pipes Ltd, Dungannon, was fined £24,000 plus costs of £854 for four health and safety breaches that led to the death of a worker in August 2014.
Speaking after sentencing Kevin Campbell, an inspector with HSENI’s Major Investigation Team, said: “Employers must ensure that operators of forklift trucks are properly trained, competent and authorised to operate lift trucks. No one should be allowed to operate a forklift truck unless they have received the appropriate training and instruction.
“It is also essential that employers provide health and safety information to their employees that is clear and easily understood.”
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Life is clearly cheaper in NI. £24000 is less than the price of a good new car! What incentive is this to comply with legislation and best practice, as it offers no deterrent and allows profitable companies to flout their responsibilities.