APPLETON Thorn based William Stobart & Son Ltd has been fined £160,000 after an employee lost both his legs while working close to a forklift truck.
Andrew McAuley, 64, was picking orders for William Stobart & Son Limited when a load of heavy pallets crushed his legs in June 2022 at the firm’s warehouse.
Mr McAuley was working in close proximity to a forklift truck which was being used to load pallets of slate tiles onto a waiting truck.
The forklift truck was carrying two pallets, one on top of the other. The top pallet was not secured to the one below, and when the driver turned the vehicle, both pallets became detached from the forks, with the upper pallet striking Mr McAuley, crushing his legs.
Mr McAuley had to have both legs amputated below the knee and has been left dependent on a wheelchair and unable to drive or climb stairs, leading to the need for extensive adaptations to the family home.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that William Stobart & Son Limited failed to ensure this area of the warehouse was organised so that vehicles and pedestrians were segregated and circulated in a safe manner and loads were secured so far as was reasonably practicable.
William Stobart & Son Limited, of Ashville Way Industrial Estate, Sutton Weaver, Runcorn, Cheshire pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £160,000 and ordered to pay £4,478 costs at a hearing at Warrington Magistrates Court on 30 July 2024.
The prosecution was supported by HSE enforcement lawyer Sam Tiger and paralegal Sarah Thomas.
After the hearing HSE Inspector Lorna Sherlock said: “Mr McAuley has been left with devastating and life changing injuries.
“The company failed to implement a safe system of work for loading and unloading activities, thereby exposing employees, and others, to the risk of being struck by loads or workplace vehicles. This case illustrates the consequences of failing to segregate vehicles and pedestrians, and to properly secure loads.
“This injury could easily have been prevented.”
