Egger fined £910,000 after lorry driver was killed by a shovel loader

 Egger (UK) Limited was fined £910,000 after a self-employed lorry driver was killed making a routine delivery of recycled wood.

The circumstances were:

• There were a high level of vehicle movements in Egger's yard and previous near misses.
• Egger's risk assessments for workplace transport were not suitable or sufficient. 
• This resulted in a failure to identify that pedestrians, including delivery drivers, were at risk of being struck by moving vehicles in the yard.
• Consequently, the company failed to implement appropriate measures to control that risk, including the provision of designated pedestrian walkways.
• On 3 October 2017, the driver of an articulated vehicle was standing on open ground at the rear of his vehicle's trailer.
• He was struck by a wheeled shovel loader operating in the yard.

The HSE inspector said:
“The risks to pedestrians where vehicles are operating is well known. This incident could so easily have been avoided had the company identified the risks and put straightforward control measures and safe working practices in place. Had they done so the delivery driver would still be alive.  Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”