Kuehne + Nagel Drinks Logistics (KNDL) has been fined £825,000 after a series of safety failures resulted in a warehouse worker being run over by a forklift truck and left scarred for life.
Gary Odger suffered severe injuries and almost lost his legs when a forklift truck loaded with kegs reversed into him in July 2017 at KNDL's premises in Dagenham.
Odger said: "I was just walking through the yard, and the wheel went over my leg and my leg was hanging off… we've been through hell and back."
Following an investigation by Barking and Dagenham Council, the company was found guilty of failing to operate its site in accordance with the health and safety policies. The company was fined £800,000 and ordered to pay £25,000 in costs.
During the hearing at Barkingside Magistrates' Court, District Judge Susan Holdham strongly criticised the company for a series of safety failures.
She said: "I consider that the level of culpability is high. Whilst KNDL had some systems in place such as the two-metre rule, the wearing of high-vis vests, MHE operators to face the directions of travel, these were insufficient.
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“KNDL failed to ensure that drivers and crews were not permitted in the warehouse or yard while forklift trucks were operating, they failed to provide barriers around the whole of the warehouse rather than just one side. They failed to provide painted floor markings and zebra crossing points.
"They failed to provide separate entrances for vehicles and pedestrians as the fire door only had a handle on the inside and thus could not be used from the outside, so pedestrians and vehicles entered by the same main door.
"Although it does not appear that concerns were raised by the fleet staff and warehouse men - the transit point manager raised concerns. She said that floor markings had been requested for five years.”
Councillor Margaret Mullane, Barking and Dagenham council's cabinet member for enforcement and community safety, said: “I welcome this judgement and hope it sends out a clear message to other businesses.
“Here in Barking and Dagenham we encourage and welcome businesses, but they have to operate within the law. The health and safety of employees must be paramount and for those who choose not to obey the law, we will take action.”