A trainee electrician was seriously injured after falling from the raised forks of a forklift, when the vehicle overturned.
Plymouth Crown Court heard that CL Electrical Solutions had been contracted to change a number of light bulbs on the ceiling of a warehouse in Plympton, Devon. The facility was owned by HT Gardner Distribution Ltd, which had agreed to provide the contractor with a forklift truck and a driver to do the job.
On 7 August, Tom Davis, 18, who was a trainee electrician at CL Electrical Solutions, accompanied a colleague to the site to carry out the work. When they arrived they were told by HT Gardner Distribution that no forklift truck driver was available but they were given permission to drive the vehicle themselves, despite neither of them being qualified. They were also provided with a metal cage to attach to the truck so it could be used as a platform. €
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Agreed, the contractor should have walked away,. But the problem is that it ‘managers’ being what they are sometimes, looking purely at the bottom line, it is quite likely that they would have got into trouble if they had returned to their office without doing the job. A company I worked for many years ago was always sending one man to do a two man job with instructions to ‘find someone on site to help’. If there was no-one and the lone man failed to do the job, he was the one in trouble.
we know contractors are busy we also know that they will have a go on everything and enything to get the job done. as soon as there was no folklift truck driver the job should of ended there and then. no good being a hero if you do not do the job correctly
Basic common mistake of driving forklift truck with forks/load raised. Although it reflects lack of experience or negilence on part of FLT driver, however the main reason for this is Management Failure where the Management clearly failed to provide adequate training as well as to effectively monitor & supervise its workers.
Having worked at height for many years with good sound training and management principles under my belt. I suppose myself and people I am responsible for, ensure we execute WAH operations properly as we do not take increased risk but follow WAH industry practice guidelines every time. The CCTV footage is ‘shocking’ and the paltry fines in my opinion should have been the equivilant to a fatality case based on the neglect, ignorance and stupidity of all involved . Shame on both companies.
this is what can go wrong
It’s a nightmare using 3rd parties equipment? How can you guarantee that it’s been maintained correctly, it’s had it’s statutory exams? Are you insured? I find it amazing that people will rely on others to provide access without ensuring that the equipment is suitable and sufficient? who is to say that the driver (the one who didn’t turn up) had a license, did CLES have sight of his license prior to agreeing this method? did they ensure LOLER Cert in place? I think not!
It just goes on and on – profit at all cost, abysmal standards of management and as for PM28, this extremely contentious document just encourages companies to breach PUWER. As any modification such as those referred to in the guidance, will void the Conformity European certification, of the Flt used with a man-up cage. I’ve been in this game for many years and am semiretired now, but in all honesty not much has changed in all that time. Will it ever?
Most of the comments on this are quite right, but many companies are not aware of the dangers of using Non integrated work platforms on forklift trucks and what a dim view the HSE have of these things, Guidance Note PM28 rd edition clearly states that they should only be used occasionally in exceptional circumstances in accordance with PM28. This does not include planned work but should only include emergency work in preference to less safe means such as ladders.
Another entirely avoidable accident, it seems that we are not learning from previous incidents quickly enough. I made the decision to stop the use of Forklift truck cages at our site 8 years ago becuase of the very real danger of overturning as in this tragic incident.