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Company fined over forklift death

A machine assembly company has been fined £7,500 for breaching health and safety rules over an incident in which a worker was crushed to death by a forklift truck

Shaun Porter was killed while operating the vehicle at Trackline (International) Ltd's Lincolnshire base.

The 31-year-old was moving a large steel assembly from one end of the factory to the other when he noticed an obstruction in the gangway.

He tried raising the forks in order to proceed, but the load he was carrying hit the obstruction, causing the forklift truck to spin out of control. Mr Porter leapt from the vehicle, but it fell on him as he tried to escape and he was killed instantly.

Trackline (International) Ltd pleaded guilty to a charge under the Health and Safety Act at Lincoln Crown Court. As well as the fine, the company was ordered to pay £6,690 costs.

A Health and Safety Executive investigation found there was a lack of marked access routes for forklift trucks, and no way of assessing the size or weight of loads.

HSE inspector Jo Anderson said the death was avoidable and urged all companies to "understand the importance of managing transport in the workplace in order to prevent a tragedy like this".

Copyright © Press Association 2009

 

Company fined over forklift death

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