Two haulage firms sentenced after driver is left paralysed
Two haulage firms have been in court after a driver was left with life changing injuries following an incident at a transport yard in Bedfordshire.
What happened?
The driver had been closing the back doors of his HGV when a lorry reversed into the area he was working in, and crushed him between two vehicles.
The impact left the 51-year-old paralysed from the chest down and unable to work again. Additionally, he suffered a brain injury which has affected his sight and left him with very little use of his arms.
An investigation into the incident found that the owners of the yard, H & M Distribution Ltd and H E Payne Transport Ltd, had not put in place a documented procedure for vehicle movements.
What was the outcome?
H & M Distribution pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and was fined £150,000 and ordered to pay costs of £13,996.
H E Payne Transport Ltd was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £13,996 after admitting a breach of the same act.
HSE Inspector, Emma Rowlands, said:
“This was a horrific and entirely preventable injury caused by the
shared failure of both companies to recognise the hazards
arising from loading operations at the transport
yard and their duty to protect the people
working there.
“Our investigation found that there was no documented procedure
which allowed workplace transport and pedestrians to
circulate the site in safety, and a dangerous
lack of segregation between vehicles and
workers on foot. Tragically, as a
result an employee is now
paralysed for life.”
If you have been affected by an accident at work, and you would like expert advice, contact Hampson Hughes Solicitors today on 0800 888 6888 or email
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