Poor loading bay safety leads to forklift fall
January 1st 2012 Andrew Baxter, 50, from Eckington was unloading a 20ft container at Vesuvius UK's Sheepbridge Works in Chesterfield on 15 February 2010.
Mr Baxter was using a forklift truck and mobile ramp when the ramp became separated from the lorry bed, dropping the truck and driver to the ground. Mr Baxter suffered a fractured back and crushed disk. He spent eight days in hospital, was off work for nine months and can still only work part time.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told Chesterfield magistrates there was no evidence of a risk assessment having been carried out for any of the loading/unloading activities taking place on site, where refractory products are made.
There was knowledge among the forklift truck drivers that the ramp could move away from the lorry beds and they had adopted an informal system of using the forks of the truck to push it back into position.
Vesuvius UK was fined £24,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £4,815. More articles from Handling & Storage Solutions: | 
