The United Kingdom’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently handed out two fines for significant workplace accidents involving materials handling equipment.

A West Midlands textiles processing and reclamation business has been fined GBP300,000 (USD405,039) for a March 2023 accident where an employee was hit by a telehandler and suffered serious leg injuries as a result.

CCTV footage showed the man using a ride-on electric pallet truck inside the Bilston factory, and was returning an empty cage when he was hit by a telescopic handler being driven by another employee.

A HSE investigation found the company failed to properly manage vehicle movements on site, including organising the workplace in such a way as to ensure the safety of its employees, both pedestrians and those using vehicles.

HSE inspector Gail Bell says: “A man suffered very serious injuries due to the failure to put suitable control measures in place. These measures ensure people are kept safe at work and specifically prevent them being struck by a moving vehicle.”

Meanwhile, a UK food wholesaler has been fined GBP66,000 (USD89,093) after a workplace accident which resulted in an employee having their leg amputated.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says the man was using a pallet truck to load a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) at Norfolk in July, 2023 when the HGV pulled away while the man was still inside it. 

This caused the man and pallet truck to fall between the loading dock and rear of the vehicle, where he sustained severe leg injuries.

A HSE investigation found the employer had not taken appropriate measures to control vehicle movements at its site. The traffic light system used at the site had been broken for some weeks.