Fedex fined £543,000 after employee was struck by a forklift truck

Fedex UK Ltd was fined £543,033 (inc.costs) after an employee was seriously injured when he was struck by a forklift truck.
The circumstances were:

• Whilst a risk assessment had been carried out, it failed to identify the importance of achieving robust segregation in an area where frequent forklift truck movements took place.
• There was inadequate segregation of forklift trucks and pedestrians within the workplace at Burntwood Business Park.
• On 2 November 2017, an employee was walking across the depot.
• He was struck by a reversing forklift truck and trapped on the ground by the forklift truck. 
• He had to be freed by colleagues using a pallet truck. 
• He suffered serious fractures to his arm and soft tissue injuries to his legs. 
• He 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. Collisions between vehicles and pedestrians can be avoided if the workplace layout is properly planned, effectively segregated and suitable systems of work are introduced. If physical barriers and a suitable system of work had been in place the injuries sustained by this employee could have been prevented.”