A company in Birmingham has been fined £240,000 after a reversing HGV struck and killed an employee.
David Saint, 61, an engineering manager at manufacturing firm Northwood Consumer, was walking across a service road on an industrial estate in October 2023 when the reversing lorry collided with him.
A subsequent investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had failed to carry out a suitable assessment of the risks associated with workplace transport, address the movement of HGVs in its site rules, eliminate as far as possible the need for lorries to reverse and provide any aids or assistance to HGVs that had to carry out the manoeuvre.
Northwood Consumer pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act and in addition to the fine it was ordered to pay £6,917 in costs at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Monday (6 October).
Saint’s daughter Samantha said: “He was my everything, there was nothing he wasn’t involved in. My life now consists of ‘what would dad do?’
“I think of him and miss him every day.”
Lead HSE inspector Charlie Rowe said: “This is a tragic and shocking case that has devastated Mr Saint’s family, friends and loved ones.
“Pedestrians being struck by moving vehicles remains a leading cause of workplace fatalities in Great Britain.
“Many of these incidents involve the reversal of vehicles with poor visibility, such as HGVs.
“The HSE will continue to take appropriate enforcement action where employers fail to implement reasonably practicable measures to keep people safe.
“My thoughts remain with all of David’s family and friends,” he added.
