Mid Cheshire Pallets fined £13,362 after a worker was struck by a fork lift truck.

Cheshire-based woodworking company Mid Cheshire Pallets Ltd was fined £13,362 (inc.costs) after a worker was struck by a fork lift truck.

The circumstances were:

• There was inadequate segregation of fork lift trucks and pedestrians within the workspace of the Mid Cheshire Pallets factory.  
• A risk assessment had been carried out but had not highlighted the importance of marking segregation areas.
• On 27 March 2017, an employee of Mid Cheshire Pallets Ltd was carrying a pallet across the workshop when he was struck by an FLT being driven by another employee. 
• The worker suffered serious fractures to his leg and ankle in the incident and was off work for several months.

The HSE inspector said:
“Those in control of work have a responsibility to provide safe methods of working and a safe working environment. If a suitable system of work had been in place the injuries sustained by this employee could have been prevented.”