Fortec is expected to learn shortly if it will need to spend any of a £500,000 contingency fund put in place after a site incident in 2016 that triggered an HSE investigation.

Fortec MD Adrian Bradley, confirmed to MT that the incident occurred in October 2016, but added: “There has since been no further contact with the HSE and no further action has as yet been taken.

“The reserve in the accounts was merely incorporated as a contingency.” No further details about the incident were supplied.

The pallet network’s most recent accounts for the year to 30 December 2017, show a £500,000 provision carried over from the previous reporting period in 2016.

The notes to the accounts of the Watford Village, Northamptonshire-based pallet network, explain that “the company expects with reasonable certainty to receive a fine from the HSE in relation to a site incident, which occurred during 2016 and has provided accordingly”.

MT approached the HSE for comment and a spokeswoman for the executive said: “The HSE investigation is in its latter stages with expert opinion being sought on compliance with health and safety standards. A decision on enforcement will be taken at the conclusion of the investigation.

"Unfortunately it would not be appropriate for us to provide further details at this stage,” she added.

Bradley rejoined Fortec, where he was previously operations director, late last year as its first official MD since 2014 and the departure of Neil Hodgson.

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