Company fined after worker suffers life changing crush injuries

A waste and recycling company has been fined £24,000 after a worker was crushed by a reversing telehandler.  

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched an investigation after the incident occurred in March 2024. The investigation found that whilst the employee was sorting waste material with three other employees, another colleague was operating a telehandler nearby. The telehandler reversed into the employee and crushed them against a wall. The worker suffered several serious injuries including multiple fractures and nerve damage to their right arm, internal organ injuries, loss of hearing in one ear and loss of sight in one eye. 

HSE found that the company did not have in place a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and failed to provide adequate measures for the safe segregation of vehicles and pedestrians. The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and sentenced to the £24,000 fine and ordered to pay costs.