Lincolnshire transport and storage firm fined £186,935 after death caused by load falling from forklift truck

George H Kime and Co Ltd., a Lincolnshire transport and storage firm was fined £186,935 (inc. costs) after an employee died when a metal frame being loaded onto a lorry trailer fell on top of him.

The circumstances were:

• George H Kime and Co Ltd had transported a consignment of goods from Wiltshire to Wrangle.
• Whilst the company had some procedures in place, the absence of strong management systems meant that the Company was complacent about the risks and failed to ensure that the procedures were followed.
• The company had failed to ensure the safety of their employees during the the unloading operation. 
• They had failed to plan and supervise the lift and there was no safe system of work in place for the movement of loads not placed on pallets.
• On 10 July 2012 Jonathan Newham and a colleague were using forklift trucks to move the goods, which were not on pallets, from the trailer to a second vehicle, as the trailer was needed elsewhere.
• Mr Newham had moved a large metal-wheeled chassis, also known as a ‘dolly’, from the first trailer. 
• His colleague then attempted to load the dolly onto the second trailer.
• For unknown reasons, Mr Newham climbed onto the second trailer. 
• As his colleague loaded the dolly onto the trailer with the forklift, it fell off the tines of the forklift truck, trapping and fatally injuring Mr Newham underneath
• Mr Newham died in hospital from head and chest crush injuries. .

The HSE Inspector said:

“Mr Newham’s death was entirely avoidable and his life was needlessly lost. Lifting large, heavy and awkward items requires planning by a competent person and safe systems of work. Lifting operations, which often present severe risks to workers, must be properly planned, controlled and adequately supervised. By taking these steps, businesses can prevent tragic incidents such as this from happening.”