The Birmingham Crown Court reduced the fine for the forklift accident, which left a customer with life-changing injuriesA court in the United Kingdom has reduced the fine for a forklift accident at a Jewson’s building supply store in 2021, the Redditch Advertiser reports.
The Birmingham Crown Court reduced the fine from GBP1.2 million (USD1.6 million) to GBP300,000 (USD389,150), the newspaper reports.
Jewson’s parent company, Stark Building Material, had pleaded guilty in the Worcester Magistrates Court last year to failing to ensure the safety of its customers after a forklift ran over a man’s foot at Jewson’s in Redditch, leaving him with life-changing injuries.
The Worcester court ordered Stark Building Material to pay a fine of GBP1.2m plus costs of GBP11,029 (USD14,306) awarded to the council and a victim surcharge of GBP190 (USD246).
An investigation found the site had no marked pedestrian walkways or safe crossing points to keep people and vehicles separate.
“Even though the fine was reduced this case should be a warning to others to ensure the safety of customers and employees and to double check their controls are up to scratch and in place,” said Simon Wilkes, head of Worcestershire Regulatory Services.