Flower supplier fined £134,000 following amputation to worker’s leg

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a flower supplier after a worker suffered serious injuries that required their leg to be amputated. The worker was manually unloading cargo from a delivery trailer and when cargo became stuck on the trailer, the worker tried to manually free it with the assistance of two other employees. The cargo slid and struck the worker’s leg causing it to become trapped.  

HSE’s investigation found that the company failed to ensure employees were safe when unloading aircraft skids from delivery vehicles in the intake area. The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £134,000.