Downton and UPM-Kymmene each fined £350,000 after lorry driver was killed by a shovel loader

Downton and UPM-Kymmene have been fined a total of £713, 314 (inc.costs) after a lorry driver was fatally crushed by a shovel loader.

The circumstances were:

• The accident occurred on 6th February 2017 at UPM-Kymmene's Shotton Paper Mill.
• The Volvo shovel loaders had limited visibility.
• There was no safe system of work to segregate pedestrians and vehicles.
• The 29-year-old employee of C M Downton (Haulage Contractors) Ltd was fatally crushed when he was struck from behind.
• Downton and UPM-Kymmene were each fined £350,000 plus costs.

The HSE inspector said:
 “This death would have been prevented had an effective system for managing workplace transport been in place. This is a reminder to all employers to properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risks from moving vehicles in their workplaces”