An East Yorkshire garden landscaping supply company has been fined £600,000 after an employee died while loading a lorry.
Brian White, 59, was working for Kelkay Limited when he was operating a forklift truck at the company’s site on Heck and Pollington Lane, Pollington, East Yorkshire, on 15 June 2018.
Brian was fatally injured when the lorry he was loading was moved by the driver, pulling the forklift truck over and trapping him underneath.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found Kelkay Limited’s risk assessment failed to take into account the possibility of lorries moving while they are being loaded. HSE also found that the systems of work provided for ensuring that vehicles were not moved during loading activities were inadequate.
Kelkay Limited, of Heck And Pollington Lane, Pollington, East Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £600,000 and ordered to pay £20,848.71 in costs at Grimsby Magistrates’ Court on 30 March 2023.
Brian’s eldest son Barry said: “Not a day goes by without me thinking of my dad and how we have lost a massive part of our family. He was our rock who we could turn to for advice and help. We have lost a friend and a father and a grandad all in one go.
“He was a well-known part of the local area and his loss has affected many people around the community.
“We miss him so much. It still upsets me to this day and we will always remember him. Rest in peace dad.”
Brian’s partner Joan said: “Brian went to work on that day but didn’t return home through no fault of his own.
“We had made plans for the future together but then everything was turned upside down on that day.
“My life was then a total disaster from that day.”
HSE Inspector John Boyle commented: “This incident could have been avoided by implementing the correct control measures and safe working practices.”
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
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A tragic accident. Thinking to the practices in the warehouse we use, what are the “correct control measures” that other companies are using? Are lorry drivers handing their ignition keys to the fork lift crews?
Obviously the driver should not have moved the lorry as it was being loaded, but what are the best practices to stop the lorry moving?
We ask drivers for their keys. If they refuse, we don’t unload.