Firm fined after man hit by tipperA man suffered injuries to both his legs when a tipper truck hit him, an incident which led to a vehicle hire company being fined £5,000.
A mechanic working for S.H.B Hire Ltd was asked to mend a vehicle at the site in Uxbridge Road, Southall in west London. He reversed a different vehicle, a Ford Transit 350 tipper, in order to get the vehicle he was supposed to repair from the yard.
The reversing tipper hit Matthew Stevens, 35, from Brentford, who was cleaning a different vehicle. He had tried to get out of the way by jumping on the bonnet of the vehicle he was cleaning, but his legs were hit. He suffered bruising and swelling to both his lower legs.
After the incident, an Improvement Notice was served by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) ordering S.H.B Hire to segregate pedestrians and organise the yard area. The notice was complied with and action has been taken to separate the valeting area and a neighbouring school's car park.
S.H.B Hire Ltd, of Premier Way, Romsey, Hampshire, pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,815.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
Commenting on this story, Tim Beasley, Work Accident Claim Specialist Partner at Levenes Birmingham Office writes:-
The injured man in this case would be entitled to compensation. Firstly, his employer is liable for the negligence of his workmate and the company would also be liable for breaches of the Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 for failing to ensure that vehicle and pedestrian traffic can circulate safely.
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