A Hampshire waste management company has been prosecuted by the HSE after a man had both legs amputated when he was crushed by a 15-tonne excavator operating in the same workyard.
HSE used the case this week to emphasise the importance of keeping employees safe in areas where they are working near large vehicles.
Southampton Magistrates’ Court heard that the 24-year-old man was working for R W Waste at its yard in Shedfield in 7 November 2023 when an excavator, operating nearby, reversed over him as he was sorting waste.
Both of his lower legs were later amputated and he has been unable to return to work since.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that R W Waste failed to protect workers and other visitors to the site.
The company had not put in place suitable arrangements to keep pedestrians safe while vehicles were moving around the yard.
The court heard that the appropriate fine, after trial, would have been £180,000, reduced to £120,000 to reflect the company’s guilty plea. However, as the company had gone into liquidation and was unable to pay, it was ordered to pay a nominal fine of £1. No order for costs was made for the same reason.
HSE Inspector Nicola Pinckney said: “The failures of this company has left a young man with truly life-changing injuries. He has not been able to work since.
“Unfortunately, this type of accident is sadly not uncommon in this industry.
“After the incident, and following enforcement action taken by HSE, the company did introduce a number of readily available measures that significantly reduce the risk of this happening again.
“We take these failures seriously and will hold those to account who fail to keep their workers and other people safe.”
Health and safety legislation requires workplaces to be organised so that pedestrians and vehicles can circulate safely.
HSE said that where large vehicles must reverse, employers must consider additional precautions and implement them where appropriate to protect those working nearby.
HSE guidance on reversing states that most of these accidents can be avoided by taking simple precautions.
Guidance can be found in the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 Approved Code of Practice and guidance.
