Untrained Forklift Driver Reversed Into Supervisor
Jan 1, 2010
A factory supervisor suffered a broken leg after he was hit by a forklift truck which was being driven by an untrained driver.
Magistrates were told that the forklift driver had been allowed to drive the vehicle despite the company being aware that he did not have a valid licence or proper training.
On the day of the incident the untrained driver had been moving pallets using a 4.5-tonne forklift but his supervisor had noticed that he was driving the vehicle too fast and with the forks at full height. He reported the incident to the factory foreman and, as a result, the driver was removed from that job and asked to use the forklift to break up intermediate bulk containers (IBCs).
Whilst the driver was carrying out this new task, his supervisor was standing behind the forklift wrapping a number of IBCs in plastic sheeting. The driver then proceeded to reverse the vehicle, but failed to look behind before carrying out the manoeuvre, and accelerated into the supervisor, who received multiple fractures to his left leg. The injuries were so severe that he required surgery to insert pins and plates into his leg and was absent from work for over 10 weeks.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching s2(1) of the HSWA 1974 and was fined £6,665 and ordered to pay £2,053 costs.
Whilst this was a serious injury, it could have been far worse. Forklift trucks are a potential danger to their operators and to other people in the vicinity if not operated with great care. It is vital that companies check that employees are fully trained and have relevant qualifications to use these vehicles.
